The House Natural Resources Committee has moved forward legislation that would remove the Mexican wolf from federal Endangered Species Act protections. The Enforcing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 advanced out of committee with bipartisan backing and is aimed at restoring what supporters describe as common-sense wildlife management authority while providing relief to cattle producers and rural communities throughout the Southwest.
If enacted, the bill would delist the Mexican wolf under the ESA and reduce regulatory barriers that supporters say have limited effective predator management. Backers argue the measure would allow state and local authorities greater flexibility to address conflicts between wolves, livestock, and people in areas where wolf populations have expanded significantly.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council have voiced strong support for the legislation, emphasizing concerns about livestock losses and safety in rural communities. The groups contend that current federal protections have made it difficult for producers to respond when wolves threaten cattle operations or human activity.
“The Mexican wolf population has grown well beyond recovery goals, yet producers are left without the tools needed to protect their livestock, their families, and their livelihoods,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs. “When predators can’t be responsibly managed, it puts people at risk and undermines the stewardship efforts of those who live and work on the land every day.”
Supporters of the bill argue that delisting the Mexican wolf would better balance conservation goals with the realities faced by ranchers and rural residents, while critics are expected to raise concerns about long-term species recovery and ecosystem impacts as the legislation continues through Congress.