WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after the Trump administration released their final rule to delist the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act in the Lower 48 states. 

“In Eastern Washington, and especially in Northeastern Washington, wolf predation on calves has become common. I regularly hear from people who’ve seen wolves around their property and who cannot defend themselves without risking a felony,” said McMorris Rodgers. “By delisting the gray wolf and restoring local decision-making, we can allow people in our state and community to use science-based wolf management practices that will benefit both our endangered and native animals while protecting farmers and ranchers. As the Obama administration made clear in 2013, the gray wolf is recovered. Unfortunately, the gray wolf was not delisted. Thank you to the Trump administration for respecting local decision-making and delisting this recovered species in the lower 48 states.”

NOTE: In 2013, President Obama’s Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe stated, “[the gray wolf] is no longer endangered or threatened with extinction…As we propose to remove ESA protections, states like Washington and Oregon are managing expanding populations under protective state laws.”

In 2018, Cathy voted in support of the Manage our Wolves Act, legislation to delist the wolves and restore decision-making to the state level. 

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