Environmental Group Sues Over Lack of National Wolf Recovery Plan

The Center for Biological Diversity files lawsuit challenging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision not to release a national wolf recovery plan.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision last year to not release a national wolf recovery plan, arguing the species still requires federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. This is the latest legal action in the ongoing debate over whether gray wolves in the U.S. should be delisted from the ESA.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights the continued debate over the management and conservation of gray wolves in the U.S. The Center for Biological Diversity argues a national recovery plan is needed to guide wolf conservation efforts in areas where the species is struggling to recover, such as the West Coast and southern Rocky Mountains.

The details

The lawsuit comes as Congress is making efforts to delist gray wolves through legislation. Currently, wolves in the Northern Rockies are managed by state wildlife agencies, while wolves in Minnesota are listed as threatened and wolves in the remaining 44 states are listed as endangered under the ESA. The Trump administration previously moved to delist gray wolves outside the Northern Rockies, but that decision was reversed by a federal judge in 2022.

  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to release a national wolf recovery plan in 2025.
  • The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit on February 10, 2026.

The players

Center for Biological Diversity

An environmental group that has been a leading advocate for securing protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The federal agency responsible for managing and conserving endangered and threatened wildlife species, including gray wolves.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of trying to illegally strip wolves of protections once again, the Fish and Wildlife Service must finally follow the law and develop a plan to achieve nationwide wolf recovery. Wolves are so important to America's biodiversity and they deserve a plan that guides conservation in places where they're struggling like the West Coast and southern Rocky Mountains.”

— Collette Adkins, Senior Attorney and Director of the Center's Carnivore Conservation program (Center for Biological Diversity)

“I'm frustrated we have to go to court yet again to force the Trump administration to do its job and comply with the Endangered Species Act. If federal officials would let this landmark law truly work for wolves, we could see these amazing animals start to recover in places they once thrived.”

— Collette Adkins, Senior Attorney and Director of the Center's Carnivore Conservation program (Center for Biological Diversity)

What’s next

The lawsuit will be heard in federal court, where the judge will decide whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must develop a national wolf recovery plan.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate over the management and conservation of gray wolves in the United States, with environmental groups arguing that a comprehensive national recovery plan is needed to guide efforts to restore wolf populations in areas where they are struggling to recover.