The House of Representatives passed legislation today to fund the Department of the Interior for 2019 that includes a rider that seeks to remove federal protections for gray wolves across the continental United States.

Gray wolves are currently listed as endangered in most of the lower-48 states. While the return of gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes has been successful, the species still only occupies a small portion of its former range.

A national delisting for wolves would reverse the incredible progress that the Endangered Species Act has achieved for this species over the past few decades and once again put the gray wolf at risk of extirpation.

If this legislation passes, gray wolves will die at the hands of trophy hunters.

Stay tuned for updates and action.