Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Trust the Science Act. This would remove the Grey Wolf from the endangered species list, and transfer monitoring to the States instead of the Federal level.

The Subcommittee of Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a meeting in Sandstone MN. They’re listening to biologists, farmers, but also Minnesota residents about whether or not Grey Wolves have a sustainable population.

Jill Fritz, is the Senior Director of Wildlife Protection with the United States Humane Society. She says a thriving population is just one factor before a species can no longer be endangered.

“Delisting a species is not just a numbers game,” Fritz said. “In December, we checked in with the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and the Voyageurs Wolf Project to see if the timberwolf is to blame for the deer decline in Northern Minnesota.”

U.S. Representative Pete Stauber of Minnesota, said there’s bipartisan support to delist them. Although the U.S. Senate would need to pass the Trust the Science Act and have the President signed into law.

“I’m really hoping that our two U.S. senators and other senators across the nation would bring this to the Senate floor and have a vote. I think that when you’re using the science and the facts, there’s no question the wolves have recovered,” Representative Stauber said. “Only 2 to 3 percent of all species that are placed on the endangered species list ever get off. The wolves have recovered. So, let’s celebrate that. Let’s delist the Grey Wolves and allow the states to properly manage them. I believe the state of Minnesota can.”

Whether or not the wolves are removed, or remain on the endangered species list is hotly contested. Fritz says monitoring their numbers at a state level wouldn’t solve the issue of farmers protecting their livestock, or hunters’ frustrations with deer.

“Recreationally hunting wolves is not going to yield more deer for hunters,” Fritz said. “Just going out and randomly killing wolves in a recreational hunting and trapping season is not going to solve those issues.”

Back in December of 2023, we checked in with the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and the Voyageurs Wolf Project. Each of them offering insight if Timberwolves are to blame for the deer decline in Northern Minnesota.

Are wolves to blame for the deer decline in Northern Minnesota

You can subscribe to the WDIO YouTube Channel. Also WDIO News covered the story about Grey Wolves impacts on the deer hunting season back in December 2023.