Putting the Endangered Species Act Into Practice, One Wolf Listing at a Time

Photo credit: mybulldog/Creative Commons

Since 1973, the Endangered Species Act has shaped not only conservation in the United States, but the entire country's environmental policy. By calling on agencies to enlist help from the public and scientists, it bridges a gap between government and citizens. By mandating protections of habitat and the implementation of recovery projects it guards against the destruction of fragile ecosystems and rebuilds damaged natural resources.
But the Endangered Species Act—a piece of legislation that has, without a doubt, been largely successful—is not perfect. The success the legislation has had protecting and rebuilding gray wolf populations—and it's failure dealing with these new wolves—has become a glaring example of these imperfections; an example that now threatens the vitality of the Endangered Species Act itself.

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