HR845 Passed the House onto the Senate

[ethan_holzfaller_midwest]

Pet & Livestock Protection Act has passed the House of Representatives onto the Senate.

Under this bill is the delisting of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.

SEC. 2. REMOVING THE GRAY WOLF FROM THE LIST OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE.

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule entitled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” and published on November 3, 2020 (85 Fed. Reg. 69778).

I understand most people are either on one side or the other, with few in between.

However I figured I'd throw this question out there. If this passes and the Act gets signed by Trump, is this a win for conservation in of itself, or something that will further divide hunters from non-hunters? Do you think state DNR's will collect and show the necessary empirical data to maintain the wolf populations as is or do a controlled hunt from said data especially if its public data, which I would think it is, or should be at least?

I would like thoughts from those in high deer density areas, where maybe wolves aren't as common, or as big of an issue, or maybe they are an issue but there is so many deer. Would this change anything? Or just group you into the same group that is vilified for wanting wolf population control.

In my opinion, even as professional, any act from man will have consequences on the landscape, good or bad. Nature has a control mechanism that shows itself in population dynamics, cyclical in nature. The hardest part for man, is finding that equilibrium backed by empirical evidence that we all can see and understand. I think Gray Wolves have had a tremendous comeback from where they were. It is now our responsibility as stewards to control them so that they can flourish within that ecosystem that we have created.

 

[KY wild]

Just because the Gray Wolf is delisted from The Endangered Species list will it be open season on the species or will it be a very limited controlled season to kill the animal? Will land owners be able to kill it because it enters a cow pasture? Will each state make their own season on the Wolf? Is it being delisted because of the current population size has increased to a sustainable number or because of political pressure?

 

[Catscratch]

Animal rights groups will press lawsuits and tie biologists hands for management plans.


The divide between hunters and non-hunters deepens every time they don't get their way.

 

[Bill]

I think Gray Wolves have had a tremendous comeback from where they were. It is now our responsibility as stewards to control them so that they can flourish within that ecosystem that we have created.

You’re a better steward than me. No wolves in my area and I don’t want any. Just ask little red riding hood.

 

[ethan_holzfaller_midwest]

Animal rights groups will press lawsuits and tie biologists hands for management plans.


The divide between hunters and non-hunters deepens every time they don't get their way.

But have biologists been open and honest with their data of current populations and trends? Here in MN that is a dividing point that the DNR won't show the data or at least the overall consensus is that populations are just fine where they are at.

Now you ask anyone in northern MN, especially the northeast that's not the same song being sung.

 

[ethan_holzfaller_midwest]

Just because the Gray Wolf is delisted from The Endangered Species list will it be open season on the species or will it be a very limited controlled season to kill the animal? Will land owners be able to kill it because it enters a cow pasture? Will each state make their own season on the Wolf? Is it being delisted because of the current population size has increased to a sustainable number or because of political pressure?

I guess it will be left up to the states and their DNR/game departments to come up with local regulations. I'm curious what data there is about the wolf population in WI after they started their season. I know the permits went so fast it crashed the system haha.

If each made their own season, would it not be similar to deer and its regulations. I would like think that both seasons would have to run based on each others population dynamics. i.e. High deer population means lower wolf permits, higher wolf population means lower deer permits. That would make the most sense.

 

[BuckSutherland]

But have biologists been open and honest with their data of current populations and trends? Here in MN that is a dividing point that the DNR won't show the data or at least the overall consensus is that populations are just fine where they are at.

Now you ask anyone in northern MN, especially the northeast that's not the same song being sung.

Delisting them would allow the state to manage the wolves as they see fit as I understand it. That would be nothing but bullshit in MN with tampon Tim at the helm. No way MN will open it up regardless of what other states are doing.

I think our DNR claims about 3,000 wolves in the state. Tough to believe the population is that low. They decimated the area that I hunt and everything east and north of me along with plenty more to the south and west. I know of several camps that quit deer hunting all together. Watch Joe and Zach survival on Youtube once. I think its been several years since they have even seen a deer. Constant wolf tacks in the snow.


Moose population has also been destroyed by the wolves. They wanna claim "global warming", but in the DNRs study the #1 cause of mortality was wolves. #2 was the DNR itself since the mothers abandoned the calves. Moose thrived on Isle Royale when the wolf numbers plummeted so bad cause of inbreeding. They had to fly more wolves out there to try and kill more moose so they don't eat all the vegetation.



Wolf season never closes in parts of NE MN. People have had enough. They wanna see this get under control a little bit cause right now its ridiculous. Just had a wolf wander through the playground of the Ely elementary school about a month ago in broad daylight. I believe they have a place, but this is out of hand. A 50% reduction of what we have now would be a good start.

 

[Satchmogv]

IMHO, The delisting of wolves is just a step in the pursuit of responsibly managing them. There are several other obstacles to overcome in the pursuit of that goal.

There is already a divide between hunters, conservationists, anti hunters, animal activists, pet owners, farmers and ranchers, and the uninformed public on the issue of wolves here in MN which is where my perspective comes from. This will be a major obstacle.

IF all hurdles are overcome that would lead to active wolf management, it would need to be a comprehensive plan, not a token gesture from left leaning political leaders meant to appease public opinion. It must include accurate population assessments, an earnest goal setting agenda, and a true desire to bring the wolf population within set goals.

If this entire process is not done in good faith with diligence, I believe the rural Minnesotans will continue to feel that the illegal killing is the only way to control wolf populations.


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[ethan_holzfaller_midwest]

Delisting them would allow the state to manage the wolves as they see fit as I understand it. That would be nothing but bullshit in MN with tampon Tim at the helm. No way MN will open it up regardless of what other states are doing.

I think our DNR claims about 3,000 wolves in the state. Tough to believe the population is that low. They decimated the area that I hunt and everything east and north of me along with plenty more to the south and west. I know of several camps that quit deer hunting all together. Watch Joe and Zach survival on Youtube once. I think its been several years since they have even seen a deer. Constant wolf tacks in the snow.


Moose population has also been destroyed by the wolves. They wanna claim "global warming", but in the DNRs study the #1 cause of mortality was wolves. #2 was the DNR itself since the mothers abandoned the calves. Moose thrived on Isle Royale when the wolf numbers plummeted so bad cause of inbreeding. They had to fly more wolves out there to try and kill more moose so they don't eat all the vegetation.



Wolf season never closes in parts of NE MN. People have had enough. They wanna see this get under control a little bit cause right now its ridiculous. Just had a wolf wander through the playground of the Ely elementary school about a month ago in broad daylight. I believe they have a place, but this is out of hand. A 50% reduction of what we have now would be a good start.

Oh I trust me...I use to work for MNDNR for 8 years. I found a dead collared wolf in Lake of the Woods, it had already been reported but year, it looked like it had been taken care of one way or another.

I remember someone also saying that bears are a major predator for moose calfs too. Especially male bears after hibernation. Go for anything that is protein and easy, so moose is one, fawns for deer, and whatever else. I don't know if it's true, but there are a lot of bears around Red Lake and Lake of the Woods, and it's a dumb quota system. Anywhere else or south, no quota.

But I agree I was bothered to see a wolf in broad daylight in Ely. That isn't normal. Wolves usually stay away from people, so seeing one not just on the edge of a farmers field or close to a house in rural, but smack dab in the middle of the town.??? Its similar to the cat issues people are having in many states of taking pets left out in yards.

 

[Satchmogv]

Oh I trust me...I use to work for MNDNR for 8 years. I found a dead collared wolf in Lake of the Woods, it had already been reported but year, it looked like it had been taken care of one way or another.

I remember someone also saying that bears are a major predator for moose calfs too. Especially male bears after hibernation. Go for anything that is protein and easy, so moose is one, fawns for deer, and whatever else. I don't know if it's true, but there are a lot of bears around Red Lake and Lake of the Woods, and it's a dumb quota system. Anywhere else or south, no quota.

But I agree I was bothered to see a wolf in broad daylight in Ely. That isn't normal. Wolves usually stay away from people, so seeing one not just on the edge of a farmers field or close to a house in rural, but smack dab in the middle of the town.??? Its similar to the cat issues people are having in many states of taking pets left out in yards.

Bears are hard on fawns in my area as well. I think the bear population estimates are no more accurate in MN than the wolf population guesses by the state of MN.


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[Wind Gypsy]

I’m not optimistic about hunting opportunities in Mn with our politics if delisted but it would ant least allow for more to be killed for depredation or defense of pets.

 

[Satchmogv]

I’m not optimistic about hunting opportunities in Mn with our politics if delisted but it would ant least allow for more to be killed for depredation or defense of pets.

Very true. It would allow state trappers to be more proactive in the fight against depredation instead of waiting for confirmed kills and the feds to respond.


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[H20fwler]

IMO, wolves are a renewable recourse just like most wildlife.
Let states decide how they want to handle keeping them under control or eradicating them.
There are no wolves in my state and I do not ever want any.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

The WIDNR claims 5 wolves in my area. Funny, as I have seen 8 together in one field. Some of the local land owners self control, and there is still more than 5 in one pack, not to mention in the whole county. If a wolf is endangering my pets, or my family, I won’t be calling a warden to fix the problem.

 

[356]

If the opportunity comes to remove a wolf from our Minnesota property, I'd take it. According to monitoring by the Voyageurs Wolf Project and other research in the area, specific packs that have been identified near the property in Tower, MN include:

• Arrowhead Ridge Pack: This pack recently (as of 2025 data) claimed a territory previously held by the Half-Moon Pack and produced pups in a historic den site.
• Half-Moon Pack: A long-time resident pack of the central portion of the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, though they were ousted from a key territory recently.
• Paradise Pack: This pack expanded its territory and now occupies an area that was previously known as the Huron territory.
• Moonshadow Pack: The Paradise Pack was founded by a male from this original pack.
• Cranberry Pack: A pack operating in the general vicinity of the Paradise and Shoepack territories.
• Shoepack Pack: A neighboring pack to the Cranberry and Nashata packs.
• Nashata Pack: A pack known for having a relatively small territory, often overlapping with neighbors.

My brother-in-laws reports more sightings of wolf than deer in the area, and no deer sightings on the family property.

 

[Double Creek]

Haven't they been hunting them in ID, WY and MT for years?

 

[bigboreblr]

Hunting is one thing....... protecting your livestock is another thing, atleast with nys ag law vs encon law.

Get a chicken coup, if the three S's don't cover it.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

If the opportunity comes to remove a wolf from our Minnesota property, I'd take it. According to monitoring by the Voyageurs Wolf Project and other research in the area, specific packs that have been identified near the property in Tower, MN include:

• Arrowhead Ridge Pack: This pack recently (as of 2025 data) claimed a territory previously held by the Half-Moon Pack and produced pups in a historic den site.
• Half-Moon Pack: A long-time resident pack of the central portion of the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, though they were ousted from a key territory recently.
• Paradise Pack: This pack expanded its territory and now occupies an area that was previously known as the Huron territory.
• Moonshadow Pack: The Paradise Pack was founded by a male from this original pack.
• Cranberry Pack: A pack operating in the general vicinity of the Paradise and Shoepack territories.
• Shoepack Pack: A neighboring pack to the Cranberry and Nashata packs.
• Nashata Pack: A pack known for having a relatively small territory, often overlapping with neighbors.

My brother-in-laws reports more sightings of wolf than deer in the area, and no deer sightings on the family property.

Saw the voyageurs wolf project reported recently a 31% decline in wolf population over the last 2 years and only 20% pup survival this spring due to -> lack of deer to sustain them.

Haven't they been hunting them in ID, WY and MT for years?

Yes, and the populations in alll those states combined almost matches the number of wolves in MN.. They had to slip a rider into an omnibus bill to get them delisted in the northern Rockys. Unfortunately the Great Lakes region doesn’t have politicians like the northern Rockys to push such a thing.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Hunting is one thing....... protecting your livestock is another thing, atleast with nys ag law vs encon law.

Get a chicken coup, if the three S's don't cover it.

State law doesn’t mean shit when the feds are in control because of the endangered species act.

 

[bigboreblr]

If this passes the senate, sounds like the feds are walking away from it.

Any incidents where wolfs attacked humans? NY is still in denail there's cougars. Saw tracks about 12 years ago I swear were cougars. Big paws and tail swoosh mark in the now,