Wolf Cases Heading Back to Court!
On Tuesday October 13th the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will have a special sitting in Missoula, Montana to hear three MAJOR wolf-management cases.
The 3 Wolf Cases Heading Back to Court
1. Defenders of Wildlife v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Issue: This is the primary appeal challenging the February 2022 decision by a California federal court that invalidated the Trump administration's 2020 national gray wolf delisting rule.
What's at Stake: If the panel overturns the lower court's ruling, federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections would end across most of the lower 48 states. This would return management authority—including the ability to establish regulated hunting and trapping seasons—to states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
2. Center for Biological Diversity v. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation
The Issue: This case addresses whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) acted properly when it rejected conservation petitions to group unrecovered gray wolf populations across the Western states into a combined "Western States" Distinct Population Segment (DPS) under federal protection.
What's at Stake: A federal court in Montana previously ruled that the USFWS arbitrarily rejected the petition. The appeal will decide if the agency must re-evaluate creating a broader protected status for Western gray wolves.
3. Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project v. Burgum
The Issue: Arising out of an Arizona federal court decision, this case focuses on the USFWS Revised Management Plan for the Mexican wolf (a distinct subspecies found in Arizona and New Mexico).
What's at Stake: Conservation groups are appealing a ruling that upheld the federal management plan, arguing it does not go far enough to ensure long-term genetic viability and population recovery.
The biggest thing for Minnesota in this hearing, is that IF the panel turns over the decision made by the California Federal court. This will return management to the states. While this method of delisting will leave the door open for other methods of relisting the wolf, this could provide some major relief in Minnesota!
Federal delisting of the gray wolf would have two main impacts in Minnesota:
State law protection rights: Under Minnesota law, individuals are permitted to shoot a wolf in defense of pets or livestock. However, federal law prohibits shooting a wolf unless it poses an immediate threat to human life. If the wolf is federally delisted, Minnesota state law will take effect.
Wolf management authority: Delisting gives the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the authority to establish a regulated hunting season. While current state legislation does not mandate a wolf season, it explicitly grants the DNR Commissioner the discretion to implement one once federal protections are lifted.
If the wolf is federally delisted and the DNR chooses not to establish a season, two main options exist to push for action:
Appoint a new DNR Commissioner: Replace Commissioner Sarah Strommen, who has previously avoided addressing the wolf management issue in Minnesota.
Amend state legislation: Update the statutory language from "may prescribe a wolf season" to "must prescribe a wolf season" to ensure a season is required by law.
It should be noted that this hearing will not automatically delist wolves if the panel is in favor of overturing the lower court's decision, as it may take weeks to months for the court to come to a decision, and even then, there may be other legal steps that need to be taken.
The Bottom Line
While these court proceedings mark a crucial turning point, legal rulings alone won't guarantee effective state management. Even if federal protections are lifted, returning actual management to Minnesotans will require persistent legislative advocacy, pressure on state officials, and an organized community standing up for wildlife balance and hunting traditions.
Take Action: Join Hunters for Hunters
We can't afford to sit on the sidelines while out-of-state interest groups and distant policymakers dictate the future of Minnesota's outdoors.
Hunters for Hunters is uniting sportspeople, farmers, and landowners across Minnesota to push for common-sense wolf management and to ensure state leaders deliver real solutions.
Become a member to add your voice to state policy discussions.
Support the push for legislative accountability and mandatory hunting seasons.
Join the movement today at hunters4hunters.org and help protect our hunting heritage.
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