Conservation group plans to sue federal government for absence of national wolf recovery plan

Environmental organizations are preparing legal action against the federal government to maintain nationwide protections for gray wolves. In a formal notice sent on Tuesday, the Center for Biological Diversity informed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of its intent to file suit, claiming the agency violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to create a comprehensive national recovery plan for the species.

The letter, addressed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and USFWS Director Brian Nesvik, accuses the agency of avoiding its legal responsibility to develop a nationwide strategy for restoring wolf populations. It also argues that the agency wrongfully determined that gray wolves would gain no benefit from such a plan.

According to Collette Adkins, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, the Fish and Wildlife Service has repeatedly tried to reduce or eliminate federal safeguards for wolves, only to be blocked by the courts in most instances. The singular exception occurred in the Northern Rocky Mountains, where Congress mandated the removal of protections through a provision attached to an appropriations bill.

Since that decision, conservation groups have submitted multiple petitions to reinstate endangered status for wolves in the Northern Rockies and other western regions. These requests were rejected by the agency, but in August 2025, a U.S. District Court in Montana ruled that the denials were unlawful and ordered the agency to conduct a new analysis.

Despite earlier indications that a National Wolf Recovery Plan was in development, the USFWS announced in mid-November that it would no longer pursue the plan, stating that gray wolves do not require additional federal protection. This announcement coincides with increased political pressure, as several members of Congress have introduced legislation to remove wolves from the Endangered Species Act nationwide.

Currently, wolf populations in the United States are managed under three different designations. In the Northern Rockies, including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and parts of Washington and Oregon, wolves are no longer listed and are managed by state agencies that permit hunting. Minnesotas wolves are classified as a threatened species, while wolves in the remaining 44 states are considered endangered.

The Center for Biological Diversity argues that this fragmented approach has hindered the full recovery of gray wolves across the country. The organization points out that relying on outdated and region-specific plans prevents meaningful restoration in areas such as the West Coast, Southern Rockies, and the Northeastern United States.

Adkins confirmed that if the Fish and Wildlife Service does not reverse its position or begin developing a national recovery plan, the Center will file its lawsuit in U.S. District Court. She noted that the organization was previously involved in a successful case in Missoula, where a federal judge overturned the governments conclusion that gray wolves in the Western U.S. did not require stronger protection.

Author: Sophia Brooks