North Michigan News

Rep. Jack Bergman and a group of 24 House members have called on the 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 a letter addressed to Director Nesvik, the lawmakers congratulated him on his confirmation and asked that FWS base its decision regarding the gray wolf’s status on scientific evidence rather than political considerations. They argued that gray wolf populations have exceeded recovery targets for years, and that continued federal protection does not reflect current realities in rural communities.

“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 federal court decisions have established new standards for delisting species—requiring them to repopulate their entire historic range—a standard not specified in the ESA. The lawmakers warned that this judicial interpretation could undermine conservation efforts by diverting resources away from species genuinely at risk.

They urged FWS to reinstate its 2020 rule removing federal protections for gray wolves, supporting state and tribal wildlife programs which they say have proven effective at maintaining healthy wolf populations while addressing human-wildlife conflict.

The letter also reviews recent legal developments: In November 2020, FWS issued a rule removing gray wolves from ESA protection after determining that populations were no longer threatened or endangered. However, a February 2022 court ruling vacated this decision due to concerns about wolves’ absence from parts of their historic range, leading FWS to restore protections nationwide. Additional petitions followed; in February 2024, FWS found no need for further listings but an August 2025 court order again questioned whether all relevant areas had been considered.

According to the lawmakers’ letter, “Allowing courts to substitute their own policy preferences for this longstanding, science-based interpretation undermines the ESA and risks diverting limited conservation resources away from species truly at risk of extinction.” They maintain that states and tribes are capable of managing recovered wolf populations through regulated hunting seasons and other measures.

Bergman has represented Michigan’s 1st District in Congress since 2017, succeeding Dan Benishek. He was born in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1947 and currently resides in Watersmeet. Bergman graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a BA in 1969 before earning another degree from the University of West Florida.

The lawmakers concluded their letter by stating: “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.” They expressed hope that under Nesvik’s leadership, agency decisions would be based on science and responsive to local needs.