We talk with Marc Cooke, an advocate for wolf protection and president of Wolves of the Rockies, which is fighting to stop wolf hunting in the West. The Gray Wolf faces extinction, again, after a dramatic recovery over the past 50 years. There were as few as 300 left in the United States when they were added to the Endangered Species List in 1970. By 2019, the total North American population had reached 6,000 and small wolf populations had been reestablished in a dozen states. That year, the Trump Administration moved to delist the Gray Wolf that year and hunters went after this beautiful animal with a vengeance. Twenty-five, or about a third of the wolves in Yellowstone National Park, were killed this winter. The states of Montana and Idaho have new laws that could eliminate 90% of their wolf populations. Wyoming allocated 47 wolf hunting tags. We could lose half the wolf population in just one year.
Marc explains the controversy and next steps in the battle to protect the Gray Wolf. There is some good news. In February, a federal court judge issued a ruling that reversed the Trump-era decision to remove the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species List. That does not mean the story’s over. The ruling could be overturned by a higher court if the Biden Administration decides to start an appeal. Your voice can count in that debate — visit RelistWolves.org to send letters to your representatives and the Department of the Interior. Find out more about Wolves of the Rockies at wolvesoftherockies.org.
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