Wolves have been hunted and persecuted by humans for thousands of years. In the United States, starting in 1630, both the federal and state governments had a bounty system on wolves, paying hunters who brought in wolf pelts. The bounties lasted until as recently as 2001. This sanctioned killing of wolves, along with competition from humans for their traditional prey such as deer and elk, resulted in the almost complete extripation of wolves from the lower 48 states. 

The United States Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s to protect species around the U.S. that were in danger of becoming extinct.  The ESA  not only protects the remaining members of the species, but also institutes programs designed to foster increases in the populations the law seeks to protect.  Furthermore, individualized guidelines were implemented as to when each organism was to be taken off the list and considered recovered.  The North American Gray Wolf was one of the first species found to need the sort of protection the ESA could offer. 

Since its listing, wolf populations have grown in size in some states. Despite opposition from conservationists who argue that wolf populations have not recovered sufficiently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed reclassifying the gray wolf (lessening the level of protection it receives) with total de-listing an imminent possibility.  When de-listing occurs, the USFWS will turn management of the gray wolf over to the states. States must have an approved plan for the continued management and protection of the gray wolf. Basically, the USFWS must be confident that wolves will not become endangered again under the state's management. The minimum requirements for an adequate state management plan include the following points:

•  Any incidental take (i.e., killing) of wolves must occur unintentionally while conducting an otherwise lawful activity;
• A state management plan must include a strategy to avoid, minimize, and mitigate any proposed incidental take;
• The plan must be adequately funded and contain provisions to deal with unforeseen circumstances;
• Any incidental take allowed pursuant to the plan must not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of wolves in the wild;
• Assurances must exist that the plan will be implemented;
• States and Tribes must have involved stakeholders in the development of the plan; 

• No artificial limits on maximum wolf numbers or boundaries within a state.
• No immediate hunting of wolves.  The state must demonstrate it can manage wolves at sustainable numbers and protect them from illegal take that could threaten the population.  Minnesota, for example, has declared a five year moratorium on any wolf taking as part of its management plan.
• Wolf management should focus on non-lethal methods of control for standard conflict management.  This should include deterrents like alarm systems, prompt removal of livestock carcasses to reduce attracting predators, increased use of guard dogs, herders, and range riders when appropriate, and relocation of livestock from chronic problem areas when other methods are not successful.  Lethal control for select wolves should only be allowed when all other methods have been exhausted.
• Education of the public on the importance of wolf conservation is vital, as is providing citizens with the chance to participate in wolf protection efforts.
• The legal status of wolves in each state should be as a protected species under state law. 

State plans should incorporate strong protection for wolves, measures to prevent wolf/human conflict, population size and status monitoring, and public education. This will help insure that everyone benefits from wolf recovery - humans, the ecosystem, and of course, wolves.