Trump orders review of wolf protections as ranchers seek more hunting leeway

President Trump's administration has directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine within 90 days whether gray and Mexican wolves have met recovery criteria for delisting from the Endangered Species Act, a move that could allow increased hunting to address ranchers' livestock loss concerns. During an Oval Office event with ranchers, Trump appeared confused about the order's immediate effects, asking if wolves could be shot "as of today," which Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins corrected by noting Burgum must complete the review process first.

Conservationists including the Sierra Club's Ben Greuel argue the executive order jeopardizes wolf recovery efforts, characterizing it as political damage control related to administration beef import policies. They note current populations stand at approximately 7,600 gray wolves and 317 Mexican wolves in the contiguous United States - mere fractions of historical numbers before eradication campaigns by European settlers. Conservationists emphasize ranchers already qualify for state and federal compensation programs covering up to 100% of verified livestock losses to wolves under provisions like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The order continues Trump's pattern of weakening the Endangered Species Act, following July regulations that rescinded the definition of "harm" (which included habitat destruction), removed automatic protections for threatened species, and required economic/national security considerations in critical habitat designations. While focused on US policy, this illustrates how conservation protections can shift with political administrations - relevant context for Nigerian stakeholders monitoring how international policy changes might influence global conservation frameworks affecting transboundary wildlife management and potential funding flows for West African conservation initiatives.

What lessons might Nigerian conservation authorities draw from US experiences balancing livestock protection with wildlife preservation, particularly regarding compensation schemes versus lethal control methods?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/05/trump-again-seeks-to-remove-protections-for-wolves/