R-CALF USA applauded the House Committee on Natural Resources Thursday (Jan. 22, 2026) for voting to advance H.R. 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act, out of Committee.
If passed, the bill, led by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., would remove the Mexican wolf from the lists of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
“We applaud Congressman Gosar’s efforts in leading this legislation to protect the livelihoods of American ranching families,” said R-CALF USA Property Rights Chair Shad Sullivan. “Delisting the Mexican wolf is long overdue. Wildlife management policy must shift to include boots-on-the-ground livestock producers, local communities and an emphasis on private property rights, with less overreach from government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.”
In late 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill addressing the gray wolf, H.R. 845.
According to R-CALF USA, these actions reflect a broader and long-overdue reassessment of state and federal wolf policies, as livestock producers across the country continue to bear the financial and operational burden of depredation. That reassessment is reflected in recent state actions, including a decision by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to pause additional gray wolf releases this season. R-CALF USA emphasized that the pause does not resolve the ongoing challenges producers and communities continue to face.
H.R. 4255 moves to consideration on the House floor, while H.R. 845 awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee advanced (Jan. 22, 2026) the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) with bipartisan support. The bill would remove federal ESA protections for the Mexican wolf, restoring commonsense wildlife management authority and providing much-needed relief to cattle producers and rural communities across the Southwest.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) strongly support H.R. 4255, which would reduce regulatory barriers that have prevented effective management to safeguard livestock and rural communities from this abundant apex predator.
“For decades, cattle producers have borne the cost of federal policies that prioritize paperwork over practical wildlife management. 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 Oregon rancher and NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs. “This isn’t just a producer issue—it’s a rural community issue. When predators cannot be responsibly managed, it puts people at risk and undermines the stewardship efforts of those who live and work on the land every day. Delisting the Mexican wolf would allow wildlife professionals to use proven, science-based management tools to reduce conflict and restore balance.”
Because of its ESA status, Mexican wolf management remains heavily restricted, even in areas where wolf populations have expanded significantly. Producers face ongoing livestock depredation, disrupted grazing operations, and delayed or denied responses to problem animals—often with little to no compensation for losses.
“Whether it is Mexican wolves, grey wolves or grizzly bears, ranchers across the West face daily challenges with recovered species protected by the Endangered Species Act. This bill is a step toward alleviating the challenges southwestern producers face and would recognize the realities on the ground,” said Colorado rancher and PLC President Tim Canterbury. “This legislation is grounded in established science and restores commonsense in the listing determination. The Mexican wolf has recovered, now is the time for Congress to finish the job and pass this legislation.”
NCBA and PLC commend the House Natural Resources Committee for advancing this legislation and thank Rep. Paul Gosar for introducing a bill that recognizes conservation success while standing up for the men and women who help feed Americans.
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