A Victory for Wolves

Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Gray Wolves – ESA Protections Back on the Table

In a landmark decision, a federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service erred in its 2024 decision to deny Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the West.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy found that the agency made “numerous unfounded assumptions regarding the future condition of the gray wolf” and failed to establish any clear federal standards for wolf management. The ruling requires the Service to reassess whether wolves in the West qualify for ESA protection.

Conservationists are calling the decision a critical victory for wolf recovery.

“With this court ruling comes the hope of true recovery for wolves across the West,” said Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The case was brought forward by Western Watersheds and other allied organizations, with support from thousands of public comments urging protection.

Advocates say the ruling is proof that public engagement—through commenting, calling, and sustained advocacy—can influence policy. While the fight for lasting protections is far from over, this decision represents a major step toward preventing wolves from being hunted and trapped back to the brink of extinction.