(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s next governor will have a say in how the state manages gray wolves if Congress ends federal protection for them.
Republican nominee Tom Tiffany wants that protection to end, as does Democratic nominee David Crowley.
Tiffany, a U.S. House member from northern Wisconsin, sponsored the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. The House passed the bill 211-204 in December. It would order the U.S. Department of the Interior to bring back a 2020 rule that removed gray wolves from the federal endangered species list. It would also ban courts from reviewing that action.
The measure remains stalled in the Senate. Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tried to pass a Senate version by unanimous consent on Aug. 4. New Jersey Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker objected. His objection stopped quick passage, but the Senate could still take up the bill through its normal process.
“The gray wolf has recovered, and Wisconsin should be allowed to responsibly manage a population that has exceeded recovery goals without interference from out-of-state judges,” Tiffany said after the House vote.
Crowley’s campaign website does not state a view on wolf delisting. The Center Square asked his campaign Tuesday if he supports ending federal protection and returning control to the states. It also asked how he would handle Wisconsin’s wolf hunt law if delisting takes place.
"Wisconsin should have the ability to manage its gray wolf population based on the best available science and the realities facing our state,” Crowley told The Center Square in an email. “With gray wolves having made a strong recovery in the Great Lakes region, I support efforts to return management authority to Wisconsin.
“Any approach should include meaningful input from farmers, tribal nations, conservation and scientific experts, and communities directly affected by wolves,” he added. “By bringing these perspectives together, we can develop a balanced, responsible plan that protects our natural resources while addressing the needs of Wisconsin communities."
A governor cannot remove an animal from the federal list. Still, the issue would reach the next governor’s desk and state agencies if Congress acts. Wisconsin law requires the Department of Natural Resources to hold a wolf hunting and trapping season each year when wolves are not under federal protection. The governor also names the DNR secretary and can sign or veto proposals that change state wolf policy.
Federal wildlife officials removed gray wolves from the list in January 2021. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the animal had recovered. A federal judge struck down the rule in February 2022 and restored protection in Wisconsin and much of the country.
Wisconsin had an estimated 1,162 wolves in 321 packs in late winter 2026, according to the DNR. That was down about 5% from the year before.
Wolf attacks remain a cost for farmers, hunters and pet owners.
The state may also lack enough money to pay all wolf damage claims. Claims rose from about $100,000 in 2022 to almost $323,000 in 2024, according to the DNR. The state paid less in 2025, but the agency is now writing rules that could delay or cut payments if the fund runs short.
Craig Rucker, president of the free-market environmental group CFACT, said the wolf’s return is good news. He said that success should lead to state control.
“The recovery of the gray wolf should be celebrated as a conservation success,” Rucker said. “But recovery should not become an excuse for permanent federal control.”
Hunter Nation CEO Keith Mark said rural residents bear the cost while Congress waits.
“Wisconsin’s rural communities are paying a terrible price for federal inaction on wolf delisting,” Mark said.
Tiffany and Crowley won their party nominations on Aug. 11. They will face each other in the Nov. 3 election.
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