Three livestock advocacy groups are calling on the U.S. Senate to immediately pass S. 1306, a critical piece of legislation aimed at delisting the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and returning management authority to state wildlife agencies.
The joint appeal was issued by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association (WCA). The announcement follows a move on the Senate floor where Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sought unanimous consent to pass the bill, which was ultimately blocked by a Democratic objection.
What Is The Gray Wolf Delisting Bill?
Senate Bill 1306 is a federal legislative proposal designed to restore science-based wildlife management. If enacted, the bill would:
- Direct the U.S. Department of the Interior to reissue the November 2020 final rule that officially delisted gray wolves in the Lower 48 states.
- Return comprehensive management and predator-control authority to state governments.
- Protect the administrative delisting from further judicial review, preventing litigious activist groups from reversing the decision in court.
S. 1306 serves as the Senate companion to H.R. 845 (the Pet and Livestock Protection Act), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Dec. 18, 2025.
Industry Leaders Speak Out on Wolf Management
Skye Krebs: “A Successful Recovery Story”
“Gray wolves are no longer hovering on the brink of extinction; they represent a highly successful recovery,” says Skye Krebs, NCBA vice president and an Oregon rancher.
Krebs warns current ESA protections severely restrict essential management tools.
“This is not just a cattle industry issue; it’s a public safety, economic and governance concern,” he explains. “The last three U.S. presidents have recognized that wolf populations are thriving. Cattle producers and rural communities across the country are urging Congress to return gray wolf management to the states.”
Tim Canterbury: “Endangered Species Act Has Been Weaponized”
Tim Canterbury, PLC president and a Colorado rancher, highlights the administrative and legal gridlock surrounding the issue.
“The science has been clear across both Democratic and Republican administrations: the gray wolf has recovered,” Canterbury says. “Animal activist groups have weaponized the Endangered Species Act in court to keep wolves listed, leaving rural communities to manage abundant apex predator populations with limited tools. Ranchers and rural families across the West face severe economic and emotional strain as wolf populations prey on livestock and pets.”
Jared Geiser: The Economic Impact in Wisconsin
The Great Lakes region has felt the financial impact of the federal protections acutely. Jared Geiser, WCA president, shares data demonstrating the economic damage.
“For too long, gray wolves have run unchecked across the Upper Great Lakes,” Geiser explains. “Since 2021, Wisconsin has confirmed more than 161 cattle and calf depredations and paid more than 200 missing calf claims. More than $650,000 has been paid in damage claims in Wisconsin since 2021, but financial compensation never makes producers whole. Chronic stress from wolf pressure adds an unnecessary burden to livestock and the families who raise them. We need practical, state-led management.”
What’s Next for Gray Wolf Legislation?
According to the joint press release, although the request for unanimous consent on the Senate floor was blocked, NCBA and PLC remain committed to advancing this commonsense measure and urge Senate leadership to give the bill the consideration it deserves.
Your Next Reads:
- Cattle Made Up 72% of Wolf Diet Samples in New UC Davis Study
- House Approves Gray Wolf Protection Removal in a Victory for Cattlemen
- Wolves Are Not Going Away: Ranchers Push for Practical Management Tools
- Nightly Battles and Big Losses: Ranchers Demand Reform as Wolves Continue to Wreak Havoc
- The Cost of Coexistence With Wolves
- California Sheriffs Join in Support of Livestock Producers’ Fight Against Wolves
