By David Robinson, August 5, 2023

It’s a known fact.

Some people are afraid of or otherwise dislike wolves and bears (and other threatened and endangered species).

Of course, I’m referring to certain hypercritics of the Endangered Species Act and the animals it protects.

For example, earlier this year, Congressional Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) decided it was necessary to introduce a bill that removes critical protections from gray wolves in California, Washington, Colorado, and across the Midwest. Her proposed legislation also would prevent the courts from reversing that law. In addition, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has authored a bill requiring the Administration to eliminate gray wolf protections in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

According to Stephen Guertin, deputy director for program management and policy at U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Rep. Boebert’s bill and others to delist species “would put Congress in control of delisting species without the benefit of using the best available scientific and commercial information and without considering current conditions. They’d supersede ongoing scientific analysis being conducted by the service regarding the status of wolf and grizzly populations right now.”

Then on July 27, Republican lawmakers Sen. Jim Risch, Sen. Mike Crapo, and Rep. Russ Fulcher of Idaho, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming introduced the Grizzly Bear Review and Resource Restart Act. Their bill would remove the grizzly bear from the endangered species list.

“These anti-wildlife Republicans are proposing to remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears with more bills and an amendment to must-pass funding legislation, even as grizzly bear mortalities reach almost 30 from the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone populations,” said Adam Rissien, rewilding manager at WildEarth Guardians.

What can you and I do to help protect wolves, grizzlies, and other species? Be aware of the issues. Visit the Endangered Species Coalition website and sign up for Action Alerts. Also support organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity, Wolf Haven, Earth Justice, World Wildlife Fund, WildEarth Guardians, and other environmental groups. Write, call, and tweet your representatives. Emphasize that scientists and biologists should make critical listing/protection decisions rather than politicians and special interest groups. Join everyone else who is celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Do something to help today and the rest of the year.

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