Lawmakers are moving forward with efforts to lift federal protections from gray wolves in Wisconsin and most other states. Last week, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (the “Act”) was introduced into Congress, which would delist wolves and “ensure the action is not subject to judicial review,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

If approved, the Act would switch management over to the state level, and allow for hunting and trapping seasons as well as lethal removal efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, who introduced the bill along with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), said that it would “restore management to those who understand local needs best – state wildlife officials – and ensure that out-of-state judges can no longer dictate how Wisconsin manages its wolf population.”

Thirty other House Republicans are listed as co-sponsors. 

Back in 2024, Tiffany and Boebert introduced an identical bill called the “Trust the Science Act,” which passed in the House, but failed to pass in the Senate, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The current bill is backed by the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Safari Club International. Opponents include the Animal Wellness Action and the Center for Biological Diversity.

While the current bill has republican support, in 2023, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), introduced S.1788, which aimed to delist wolves in the Great Lakes region, which was supported by the Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association and Wisconsin Farmers Union. That bill also failed to pass the Senate.