Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves
The US president says the move will help ranchers, but conservationists say it could derail efforts to recover populations.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to remove protective status for grey wolves and their Mexican subspecies. The administration's move could allow pastoral farmers to legally kill the canines to shield their livestock. The order cites ranchers' vital role in the US food supply chain and cultural heritage, but conservation groups have slammed the decision, warning it could halt efforts to recover wolf populations.
In 2025, there were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild, up from just four when reintroduction began in 1998. Meanwhile, roughly 18,000 grey wolves exist in the US, still classified as endangered due to habitat loss. The administration's order grants Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to assess whether the wolf populations' recovery warrants removal from the endangered species list.
Ranchers face a potential license to shoot wolves attacking livestock, but environmentalists argue wolf attacks are rare and don't significantly impact ranchers' income. The Mexican grey wolf's recovery remains doubtful due to the order, according to conservationists.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
