U.S. House moves to delist wolves from Endangered Species Act

[Beringia]

2. Gray wolf protections on track to survive the current Congress

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https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article222257765.html?fbclid=IwAR0Xhmu8kR-Txcwb4K30WFEEvUglII743aL54gchDFMttmjgSbcTvJ8YE0M

WASHINGTON

The gray wolf has been in danger in recent weeks of losing the federal protection that for decades has kept it from being hunted.

But the congressional ardor to end the protection — and make it easier to trap or shoot the wolves — is fading fast.

House Republicans last month passed legislation to remove gray wolves in 48 states from the list of species shielded by the Endangered Species Act, which could make it easier to kill them.

The removal of the act’s federal protections would leave laws regulating wolf killing up to the states. It would lift restrictions on logging, grazing and construction activities in wolf habitats that were previously prohibited by the act or required consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, according to Fish and Wildlife spokesman Gavin Shire, who added that states could maintain their own restrictions.

But the House’s initiative has been stuck in the Senate, and with only days remaining in this year’s congressional session, key backers are not optimistic that bill will go anywhere.

Bills not enacted by Congress before its new session begins next month expire. That means the Manage Our Wolves Act would have to pass the House again in 2019 — a tougher task, as environmentally-friendly Democrats will run the House of Representatives.