UP Gazette

Rep. Jack Bergman and a group of 24 House members have urged newly confirmed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Brian Nesvik to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list and return management authority to states and tribes.

In their letter, the lawmakers congratulated Nesvik on his confirmation and emphasized the need for FWS decisions to be based on scientific evidence rather than political considerations. They argued that gray wolf populations have exceeded recovery targets and that continued federal protection does not reflect current conditions in rural areas.

“Gray wolves have recovered far beyond the levels that originally warranted their listing," said Rep. Bergman. “The science is clear - these populations are stable, self-sustaining, and thriving. It’s time to return management to the people who live with these animals every day, not judges or bureaucrats in Washington.”

The letter points out that recent court rulings have set new requirements for delisting species—specifically, requiring repopulation across their entire historic range—which are not stipulated by the ESA. The lawmakers argue this judicial interpretation undermines legislative intent and diverts resources from species at greater risk.

The representatives referenced FWS’s 2020 rule that removed federal protections for gray wolves based on scientific data showing they no longer met the criteria for being threatened or endangered under the ESA. However, a 2022 court decision reinstated those protections after finding FWS did not address wolves’ absence from parts of their historical range. Further legal challenges followed, leading to additional reviews by FWS.

The letter maintains that both law and science support delisting: “Grounded both in scientific data and the law enacted by Congress, the gray wolf no longer meets the definition of threatened or endangered under the ESA, and primary management authority must be returned to individual states and tribes.” The members also called for support of state-implemented wildlife programs, which they say effectively balance conservation with reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Jack Bergman has represented Michigan’s 1st district in Congress since 2017, succeeding Dan Benishek.

Bergman was born in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1947; he currently resides in Watersmeet.

He earned his BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1969 before graduating again from University of West Florida.