Trump moves to remove protections for gray wolves, alarming conservationists

Donald Trump has signed an executive order launching the process to remove endangered-species protections for gray wolves and their Mexican subspecies, a decision conservationists say could jeopardize years of recovery efforts.

The order could eventually open the way for ranchers to kill wolves to protect livestock, but it does not immediately grant them that right. It describes ranchers as important to the U.S. food supply chain and points to the country’s cattle herd being at its lowest level in 75 years, while demand for beef has increased.

The debate comes as the Trump administration seeks to push down record-high beef prices. The article links those prices to drought and problems with U.S. meat supplies.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 319 Mexican wolves lived in the wild in 2025. Only four remained when the animals were reintroduced in 1998. The United States has about 18,000 gray wolves, although they remain classified as endangered because humans have destroyed much of their habitat.

Conservation organizations say attacks on livestock are rare. They also note that ranchers already have the right to receive compensation when wolves kill their animals.