The U.S. House just passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845) on December 18, 2025 by a 211–204 vote. Congress.gov
Now it’s in the U.S. Senate—referred to the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee—where it will face a tougher fight.

What this bill does (plain English)

H.R. 845 requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the 2020 gray wolf delisting rule for the Lower 48 (except the Mexican wolf)—and it prevents that reissued rule from being overturned through judicial review again.
That 2020 rule was vacated by a federal court in 2022, which is why wolves “snapped back” under prior federal protections.

Why this matters (for hunters, ranchers, and the non-hunting public)

This isn’t about “getting rid of wolves.” It’s about putting wolf management where it actually functions best:

• State wildlife agencies manage wildlife for real-world conditions—with seasons, quotas, monitoring, and accountability to local communities.

• Coexistence works when there are boundaries. Rural families should be able to protect pets and livestock and reduce conflicts before they escalate.

•  Endless courtroom ping-pong is not wildlife management. Wolves shouldn’t be managed by whichever judge draws the case next.

If wolves are recovered in a region, the question shouldn’t be “How long can we keep them federally listed?”
It should be “How do we manage them responsibly—like every other recovered, successful species?”

FAQ:

“Does this mean wolves will be wiped out?”
No. Delisting doesn’t remove management—it changes who manages. States still set rules, seasons (if any), monitoring, and enforcement.

“Why not keep it federally protected?”
Because “protected” isn’t the same as “managed.” Where wolves are recovered, we need conflict-reduction + accountability, not courtroom-driven instability.

TAKE ACTION: Contact Your U.S. Senator today—CALL OR EMAIL

A King County Superior Court commissioner granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Oct. 14, 2025, blocking WDFW’s lethal-removal authorization for the Sherman Pack in Ferry County. WDFW documented six confirmed depredations in ten months despite extensive non-lethal deterrents and acted under the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol, which allows lethal removal after 3 depredations in 30 days or 4 in 10 months (with non-lethal efforts documented). A preliminary-injunction hearing is set for Oct. 28, 2025. Conservation Northwest

The ask: lift the injunction so WDFW can follow its science-based plan and reduce conflict for both wolves and rural communities. WDFW

As a result of a lawsuit from the anti-hunting group Washington Wildlife First, a King County commissioner stepped in to halt the removal — overriding state wildlife experts and ignoring the department’s clear legal authority and scientific process.

This move is more than a local court decision — it’s a dangerous precedent. It allows political activism and urban ideology to overrule science, fieldwork, and the professional judgment of WDFW’s wildlife managers. It’s another version of “ballot box biology” — where decisions about wildlife are driven by emotion and lawsuits instead of data and expertise.

If allowed to stand, this injunction will:

• Undermine WDFW’s authority to manage wildlife under state law.

• Erode public confidence in science-based conservation.

• Empower anti-hunting organizations to paralyze wildlife management through courts.

• Harm both wolves and rural communities, making coexistence harder and conflict worse.

Quick fact sheet 

• What happened? On Oct. 14, a King County Superior Court commissioner issued a TRO preventing WDFW from removing a wolf from the Sherman Pack; the PI hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28. WDFW

• Why was removal authorized? WDFW verified six depredation events within 10 months (seven livestock affected) after extensive non-lethal tools were used (range riders, etc.). WDFW

• What’s the protocol threshold? Lethal removal may be considered at 3 depredations/30 days (acute) or 4/10 months (chronic) with non-lethal measures documented. WDFW

• Who manages wildlife? RCW Title 77 charges WDFW/Commission to “preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage” wildlife—agency expertise exists for a reason. Washington State Legislature

• Why it matters: Blocking protocol-driven actions undermines trust, hurts coexistence, and can reduce public tolerance for wolf recovery. WDFW

FAQ 

Did WDFW actually meet the threshold?
Yes. WDFW reported six depredations within ten months, with documented non-lethal efforts. That exceeds the “chronic” threshold (≥4/10 months) and also aligns with the “acute” framework (≥3/30 days) when applicable. WDFW

Why is a King County court involved in a Ferry County issue?
Petitioners filed in King County Superior Court; a commissioner granted a TRO on Oct. 14, 2025, with a preliminary-injunction hearing set for Oct. 28. Venue aside, the effect is to halt WDFW’s protocol-driven management statewide. WDFW

Does lethal removal undermine wolf recovery?
No. The protocol authorizes incremental, case-specific removal only after verified depredations and non-lethal tools fail. It’s designed to sustain recovery by maintaining public tolerance in working landscapes. WDFW

Washington’s wildlife must be managed by trained professionals, not by lawsuits, politics, or pressure campaigns. WDFW’s actions were consistent with state policy, scientific guidance, and the public interest.

Now is the time to stand up for science, conservation, and professional wildlife management.

Call to Action: Follow the Law—Restore Balance on America’s Rangelands

Why Act Now

• Wild-horse & burro herds have soared to ≈73,000 on-range—nearly 3× the Appropriate Management Level (25,556), while another 67,000 animals sit in off-range facilities that consume 71 % of the program budget.

• Since 2005, annual appropriations “riders” have stripped BLM of its legal authority to sell excess animals without restriction or to humanely euthanize un-adoptable horses over age ten, paralyzing real management.

• These constraints accelerate habitat degradation, displace native wildlife, and drain taxpayer resources.

Our Position

We simply ask Congress to honor the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act as written.

1. Healthy Ecosystems – Reduce herds to AML so vegetation, soils, water, wildlife, livestock, and recreation can thrive together.

2. Science-Based Wildlife Protection – Manage horses and burros like every other grazing animal, using fertility control after AML is reached.

3. Adoption & Direct Sale First – Restore BLM’s authority to offer animals >10 years old for adoption or sale without a one-year title hold before euthanasia is considered as a humane last resort.

What Congress Must Do in FY 26

• Remove the FY 2005 “sale-ban” rider from the Interior, Environment & Related Agencies bill.

• Fully fund and direct BLM to gather roughly 20,000 excess animals per year until AML is met, then pivot to fertility control.

READ MORE HERE

How Can You Help? Take action below by contacting the House & Senate Appropriations Committees. There will be some questions to answer that will personalize and further customize your email as well.