What happens when science takes a backseat to politics? You get U.S. wildlife policy.

 

If Wildlife Management Is “Science-Based”… Why Do Politics Decide Who Lives and Dies?

Wildlife management is often presented as a purely scientific endeavor—decisions made by trained professionals using data, population models, and ecological principles. But if that were true, why do political ideologies and personal biases so often determine which species are allowed to exist and which are sentenced to extermination?

Take, for example, the recent confirmation hearings for Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum. During the proceedings, Senator Jim Risch of Idaho made his stance on certain predators abundantly clear:

“They’ve already had a discussion about grizzly bears; we don’t want grizzly bears. They kill people. The federal government already gave us wolves, we had them all killed off about 75 years ago, and some yee-hoo decided we needed them back here again.”

This is not science. This is personal preference. It is ideology masquerading as management. And it is the dominant force shaping wildlife policy across the United States.

When Science Takes a Backseat to Politics

The rhetoric from Risch—and many others like him—reveals a deeply ingrained view of wildlife that is based on control and fear, not ecological understanding. Science tells us that grizzly bears and wolves play vital roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Science tells us that predators regulate prey populations, prevent disease spread, and contribute to biodiversity. And yet, when science conflicts with political agendas, it is ignored, twisted, or discarded entirely.

We see this pattern time and again:

• State legislatures passing laws to undermine federal protections for species that inconvenience ranching and hunting interests.
• Wildlife commissions stocked with politically connected appointees who prioritize extractive industries over ecosystem health.
• Management agencies pressured to inflate ‘harvest’ quotas to appease special interests rather than follow ecological best practices.

In other words, wildlife policies aren’t being determined by what’s best for ecosystems. They’re being shaped by who holds power and who shouts the loudest.

The Myth of “Predator Control”

Risch claims that Idaho “had them all killed off” 75 years ago, as if that was some sort of victory. But the reality is that removing apex carnivores creates chaos in ecosystems. When wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone, for example, elk populations exploded, leading to overgrazing that devastated native plant life and altered entire river systems. It was only after wolves were reintroduced that the park’s ecosystem began to recover.

And yet, despite decades of scientific research confirming the benefits of predators, politicians like Risch continue to frame wolves and bears as threats to be eliminated. His argument is not about ecological balance—it’s about power. When science takes a backseat to politics, it serves these interests. Who gets to decide which species belong? Who gets to dictate which animals live or die?

Wildlife management should be rooted in ethical, science-based principles that prioritize ecosystem health, not the political whims of those in power. That means:

• Removing politics from wildlife commissions and ensuring they are staffed with ecologists and conservation scientists with ethics training, not just ranchers and trophy hunters.
• Ending predator eradication policies that cater to outdated fears and industry interests.
• Shifting from a ‘game species’ model to an ecosystem-focused approach that values all wildlife, not just those deemed useful to humans.

Take Action

If we don’t push back, these political decisions will continue to drive species toward extinction while propping up a broken system of wildlife management. We need real reform, and that starts with people demanding change.

• Attend your state’s wildlife commission meetings. Find upcoming meetings at Wildlife for All’s February Wildlife Commission Meetings page.
• Call your elected officials. Demand they oppose Elon Musk’s takeover of public lands and agencies. Use 5 Calls for scripts and contacts.
• Join the larger movement for systemic change. General Strike US is organizing mass action to fight back against government corruption and corporate overreach.
• Push for ecosystem-level protections. Your state agencies, state legislators, and state wildlife commission need to hear your voice. And they need to keep hearing it until they listen.

Wildlife management should not be a political chess game where species are moved, removed, or exterminated based on who holds office. It should be a science-based, ethical system that respects the role of all species in maintaining the health of our planet. The time to demand change is now.