(NAFB) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council expressed opposition to the U.S. District Court’s ruling to remand and vacate the Endangered Species Act Delisting of the gray wolf.

The Trump Administration delisted the gray wolf in 2020.

“It’s disappointing that environmental activism carried more weight than science in this case,” says Kaitlynn Glover, Public Lands Council Executive Director.

The PLC and NCBA say data clearly shows the gray wolf population has recovered and no longer meets the requirements for listing. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says his group is extremely disappointed in the ruling returning the wolf to the endangered species list.

“The gray wolf exceeded recovery goals and should be celebrated as an Endangered Species Act success story,” Duvall says. “The ESA is not intended to promote permanent protected status for animals that are now thriving, and this ruling ignored ESA goals and threatens recovery efforts for other animals.”