Trump orders review of wolf protections for ranchers

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday directing federal officials to review Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and Mexican wolves, a move that could make it easier for ranchers to kill predators threatening livestock as the administration looks to support the cattle industry and lower beef prices.

The order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the wolves have met federal recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act. If they have, the administration would begin the process of removing or reducing their federal protections while preparing legislative recommendations for Congress.

The order also directs the Interior and Agriculture departments to consider revising regulations governing lethal wolf removal, compensation programs for livestock losses and emergency responses involving wolves that threaten livestock or human safety.

Trump signed the order alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and ranchers during an Oval Office ceremony, according to reporting from The Hill.

"They're destroying these businesses," Trump said. "You watch them go right through your herd, and they're violent."

Rollins said ranchers in areas where wolves remain federally protected have been unable to shoot predators attacking their livestock.

"Because they're on the endangered species list, they can't…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/