The removal of gray wolf delisting language from a recent appropriations bill is a setback, but not the end of the fight for livestock producers. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Director of Government Affairs Garrett Edmonds says the move reflects the political realities of funding legislation rather than a shift in policy. NCBA is now focusing its efforts on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which passed the House and would reinstate the gray wolf delisting rule. Edmonds said repeated court challenges have created uncertainty for ranchers. “We continue to see this flip-flop in regulatory guidance on the wolf listing itself,” he said, adding that multiple administrations have concluded the wolf has recovered based on science. “Ultimately, the rural communities bear the brunt of this, both from a public safety standpoint and the impact it has on livestock, which effectively puts food on their tables,” he said. NCBA is urging the Senate to advance legislation that would provide a long-term, science-based solution.
