House Committee Advances Bill To Remove Endangered Species Act Protections from Mexican Gray Wolves

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Committee on Natural Resources has advanced a bill that would remove Endangered Species Act protections from Mexican gray wolves, or lobos.

The "Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025" (HR 4255), sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), would push this critically endangered animal closer to extinction at a vulnerable time for its recovery. There are currently nearly 300 wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, but the population has a genetic diversity founded by just 2 wolves.

Removing Endangered Species Act protections would stop releases of wolves from captivity to diversify the gene pool, end federal investigations into possible wolf predation on livestock, reduce federal funding that supports compensation for livestock losses, shut down monitoring of the wolves, and remove federal prohibitions on lethal take.

Ahead of the vote, the Sierra Club joined more than 70 organizations in sending a letterto committee members encouraging them to vote no on the bill.

In response, Bradley Williams, Sierra Club's Deputy Legislative Director for Wildlife and Lands Protection, released the following statement:

"This bill would pull the rug out from one of America's most fragile wildlife recovery efforts. Mexican gray wolves are only here today because of the Endangered Species Act protections. With dangerously low genetic diversity and ongoing threats from poaching and vehicle collisions, stripping protections now would push this species closer to extinction. Congress should be strengthening Endangered Species Act protections, not sacrificing endangered wildlife to score political points with private industry."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.