What Progress Is Being Made To Delist The Gray Wolf At the Federal Level?

Gray wolf populations continue to grow in Washington, Oregon and across much of the west, so many in the farming community are wondering if the animal will be removed from the Federal Endangered Species List.  Representative Dan Newhouse said work to delist the wolf continues, but at a slow pace.  He said there is a lot of interest in D.C. of pushing legislation through, but some are nervous at the idea of taking such a vote so close to the mid-term elections.  He said what should encourage the ranching community is that Grey Wolf delisting legislation already cleared the House chamber with a bipartisan vote earlier this year.

“This will be a very identical vote, to what has been taken earlier so, we have to make people feel comfortable that this is not something new, and it is something that is very much needed, in those states that are impacted.”

Newhouse said while there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, he says lawmakers from other western states have been very helpful to push delisting legislation forward.

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