On August 5, a federal judge in Montana vacated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s standing determination that gray wolves in the Western U.S. do not warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The court ordered the agency to re-evaluate wolf policy—including in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and parts of Washington, Oregon, and Utah—using the best available science and full consideration of threats, historical range loss, and state regulatory frameworks.
The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) recognizes continued concerns about federal overreach into state wildlife management decisions. While the ruling affects wolves broadly across the West, Wyoming has successfully managed its wolf population under state authority since 2011. In April 2017, the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington DC upheld Wyoming’s management plan for wolves in the state.
“State management of the fully recovered gray wolf is essential,” said WyFb Executive Vice President Kerin Clark. “Those who live and work in Wyoming are most impacted by the presence of the wolf and can determine the best course of action for management of the fully recovered gray wolf.”
WyFB remains committed to protecting the livelihoods of Wyoming’s farmers and ranchers while advocating for policies that preserve the state’s ability to manage its own wildlife effectively.
Currently, Wyoming classifies wolves as predatory animals across roughly 85% of the state—allowing landowners and livestock owners to protect their businesses from wolf depredation without restrictive federal limitations. This management structure balances conservation goals with the realities of ranching and rural life. WyFB continues to support science-based wildlife management that respects private property rights and the role of state agencies in addressing regional needs. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reconsiders its approach, we urge close coordination with state wildlife managers, local stakeholders and those most affected by predator populations.
“The original intent of the ESA is to promote species recovery and delisting, not to impose permanent protected status for animals that are thriving,” according to Clark. “Wolf numbers in Wyoming have remained well above the numbers established for a recovered population.”
“Science, not politics, should drive the decisions made for wildlife management,” she concluded.
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WYFB – 2025
“Déjà vu all over again”. The legitimacy of this court case is best described by the naming of the judge and the group that brought the suit to rehash what has been worked over so many times. Obviously, the judge is in favor of sending the NGOs a snippet so they can make payroll this month. Wolf management can best be described by the constant numbers of which Montana, Wyoming, along with Idaho, have produced over the last several years. There is no valid reason to re-study any of this, unless you like elk better than wolves. Would hope that an appeals court looks at this and puts it right back where it belongs in the burn barrel.
Dave McEwen
ps, the judge is Molloy.