Bears, Wolves & Plovers
The Fight to Protect Our Most Threatened Species
Threatened and endangered species—and the laws that protect them—are facing the most significant attacks of our lifetimes. Join us tonight for this critical briefing on what’s happening and what you can do.
🐺 Gray Wolves in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to over 1,000 gray wolves—a remarkable recovery for a species that was nearly eliminated from the state. But that recovery is now under direct attack.
HR 845, the “Pet and Livestock Protection Act,” is currently before the House Rules Committee. This bill would forcibly delist wolves from Endangered Species Act protection and—critically—bar any judicial review of that decision, stripping courts of the power to challenge the action.
🐻 Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears remain protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act—for now. The Biden administration rejected state petitions from Wyoming and Montana to delist grizzlies, but the fight continues.
States including Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have sued to fast-track delisting, arguing bears have “recovered.” But fewer than 2,000 grizzlies exist in the Lower 48, down from an estimated 50,000 historically.
🐦 Piping Plovers in Wisconsin
Yes, Wisconsin has plovers! The federally endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover nests on Wisconsin’s shores—including Green Bay’s Cat Island and Longtail Point.
In 1990, only 13 breeding pairs remained in the entire Great Lakes. Thanks to intensive recovery efforts, 2024 saw a record 81 pairs—still critically endangered, but slowly recovering.
Wisconsin fledged 10 chicks this year from Cat Island and Longtail Point—a significant success for this tiny shorebird.
Tonight’s Speakers
- Regan Downey — Wolf Conservation Center
- Kristin Combs — Wyoming Wildlife Advocates
- Chris Allieri — NYC Plover Project
Discover more from Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
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