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119-s-5519119th Congress

Northern Great Lakes Wolf Recovery Act

Sponsored By: Senator Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

Introduced

Summary

Delist the Northern Great Lakes gray wolf population by requiring an updated monitoring plan and a new regional delisting rule tied to tribal and state consultation. This bill would create a focused process to evaluate and remove Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula after new planning and review are completed.

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  • Tribal governments: The bill would create a Northern Great Lakes Region Gray Wolf Advisory Committee with tribal representatives and require consultation during the monitoring update and delisting steps, giving tribes a formal role in oversight and the five-year post-delisting monitoring period.
  • State agencies and regional stakeholders: State officials nominated by governors can join the advisory committee, and the Minnesota population reference would be expanded to include the Northern Great Lakes population for purposes of the 1978 Rule and any subsequent delisting rule.
  • Federal agencies and science oversight: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have to update the Post-delisting Monitoring Plan within one year and issue a delisting rule only after consulting the advisory committee, followed by at least five years of post-delisting monitoring.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New committee, monitoring, and delisting

If enacted, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would set up a Northern Great Lakes Region Gray Wolf Advisory Committee within 30 days. The Director would update the 2008 post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the region within 1 year, working with that committee. If the Monitoring Plan is updated as required, the Secretary of the Interior would be required to issue a rule removing the region's gray wolf population from the Endangered Species Act. The committee would also advise on and oversee a five-year post-delisting monitoring period. These changes would mainly affect people and landowners in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Reclassify Northern Great Lakes wolves

If enacted, the bill would treat the Northern Great Lakes gray wolf population (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula) as the 'Minnesota population' for the 1978 Rule and the delisting rule. This change would take effect when the law begins and would not alter other wolf populations described in the 1978 Rule. That legal reclassification could make it easier to remove federal protections and shift management to state authorities, affecting residents and landowners in the region.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

WI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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