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Wolves and the Endangered Species Act

When the wolf was put on the Endangered Species list in 1967, it marked a reversal of the official extermination policies that had been the norm for centuries. For the many species driven to the brink of extinction or exiled from their natural ranges, listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act offers the chance of recovery and survival. It also opens the door to restoring the natural balance among diverse native species and improving environmental conditions.

The wolf has been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered throughout the contiguous United States except in Minnesota, where it has been considered threatened. “Endangered” means that a species is currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its historic range. “Threatened” means that a species could become endangered soon if proper protections aren’t in place. In recent years, the U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service has made various attempts to remove ESA protections in some regions, which has resulted in lawsuits brought by environmental and wildlife organizations. For updates on this process, go to the Latest News section.

Wolves in Alaska are not protected by federal laws. Wolves in the area around Yellowstone National Park, central Idaho, the Southwest, and the Southeast are designated as “non-essential, experimental populations,” a status that keeps them legally distinct and subject to management practices that take into account economic activities like ranching.

The Endangered Species Act is implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. FWS is required to take into consideration the historical range of an endangered species when seeking its recovery, even if the species doesn’t currently live there—like parts of the Northeast for the wolf. The Endangered Species Act also requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop and implement a recovery plan for each species that describes its current situation; establishes goals (such as a population number) and criteria to determine if the goals have been met; and sets a schedule and budget for the recovery process.