Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)

Gray Wolf Status under the ESA

Reinstatement of Protections for the Gray Wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Northern Rocky Mountains in Compliance With Court Orders (Dec. 11, 2008)
This final rule reinstates Endangered Species Act protection to gray wolves in the upper Midwest (i.e., western Great Lakes states) and northern Rocky Mountains as ordered by the courts as a result of two lawsuits. This action is effective December 11, 2008. However, the court orders had legal effect immediately upon their filing on July 18, 2008, September 29, 2008, and October 14, 2008.

Court ruling places western Great Lakes Gray Wolf back under Endangered Species Act protections - September 30, 2008

Judge's Opinion

Our Solicitors are working on the next steps that the Service will take to address the court ruling. When new information is available, we will post it on this site.

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On February 8, 2007 the Service published a final rule that removed Endangered Species Act protection for wolves in the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment. This final rule only affects gray wolves in this Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (DPS). View information about the final rule to delist the Gray Wolf Western Great Lakes DPS. The final rule went into effect on March 12, 2007.

The following map shows Endangered Species Act status of gray wolves in the lower 48 states, note that the status of gray wolves outside of the Western Great Lakes DPS did not change. Follow this link for a pdf version of the map showing the Endangered Species Act status of gray wolves in the lower 48 states.

Below are information and links about past changes in the wolf's ESA status and what we have proposed in the past:
In April, 2003 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) changed the listing status for the gray wolf in the conterminous U.S. In addition to changes in ESA status, the 2003 Rule included Special Regulations under section 4(d) of the ESA to address control of depredating gray wolves. A January 31, 2005, ruling from the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, vacated and enjoined the Service's 2003 changes. The Oregon ruling concluded that the 2003 Distinct Population Segment boundaries and reclassification decisions were "arbitrary and capricious" and violated the Endangered Species Act. A May 6, 2005 ruling (PDF) by the Judge provided clarification of the original ruling. The Vermont District Court ruled similarly.

The Oregon Court's ruling invalidated the April 2003 changes. Therefore, gray wolves in the conterminous states (except Minnesota where the gray wolf remained listed as threatened) and Mexico were endangered, except where they were listed as part of an Experimental Population for reintroduction purposes. Experimental Population Areas are found throughout Wyoming and in portions of Montana, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

2000 Proposed Rule to Reclassify and Delist the Gray Wolf in Portions of the Conterminous U.S.

2003 Final Rule to Reclassify and Delist the Gray Wolf in Portions of the Conterminous U.S.

2004 Proposal to Delist the Gray Wolf Eastern Distinct Population Segment

On January 31, 2005, the Oregon U.S. District Court issued an opinion and order on our 2003 rule that established three gray wolf "Distinct Population Segments" and downlisted the eastern and western Distinct Population Segments from endangered to threatened.

Court Order and Opinion (pdf)

Changes in Gray Wolf ESA Status and Protection in Light of Oregon Court Ruling

May 6, 2005 Order and Judgement from Oregon District Court (pdf)

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Revised January 29, 2007

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