FORT WORTH, Texas (RFD-TV) — Gray wolves remain a concern for many western cattle producers as debate continues over whether the species should remain protected under the Endangered Species Act.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said growing wolf populations are creating challenges for ranchers, speaking during RFD-TV’s upcoming Rural Town Hall presented by the Western Caucus Foundation, which premieres July 1 on RFD-TV.
“If you’re dealing with him out on the ground pressuring your wildlife, that situation changes very, very quickly. You know, we’re in an area now where we have seen rapid expansion of wolf populations in the West. You know, we have California producers who have now lost 70-80 calves this season alone. The gray wolf is one of the only species under the Endangered Species Act history that both Democratic administrations and Republican administrations, going all the way back to the Obama administration, have agreed is ready for delisting. Scientifically, we are done here. There are plenty of wolves in North America.”
Lane also noted that legislation in the U.S. Senate would remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
While that bill appears to be stalled, the House has already voted to delist the species.
