On January 7, the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation received “not-warranted” findings from the Biden administration regarding two Endangered Species Act petitions. These petitions requested the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to delist gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes and downlist West Coast wolves to threatened status. Despite serving as a blueprint for these actions in line with previous court decisions, the agency chose to merge and deny the petitions, disregarding scientific evidence and a durable solution. This decision was seen by Dr. Todd Adkins, Senior Vice President at the Sportsmen’s Alliance, as a politically motivated move that ignored the needs of the public.
The petitions were filed in June 2023 by the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation along with several hunting associations. After more than a year of inaction, the foundation notified FWS of their intent to sue on July 2, 2024, and proceeded with legal action on September 9, 2024. Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel at the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, criticized FWS for merging and denying the petitions, claiming they failed to follow the Endangered Species Act’s requirements. The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is now considering further legal challenges against the agency’s decision.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance is dedicated to protecting wildlife conservation programs in the U.S. and supporting hunting, fishing, and trapping activities that fund these programs. The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation focuses on public education, legal defense, and research to achieve its mission.
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