Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16, 2026

Wolf Conservation Center to Lawler: Protect gray wolves

Jean, a Mexican gray wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center. Contributed photo

To the Editor:

The Wolf Conservation Center in northern Westchester County is home to 32 of Congressman Lawler’s most endangered constituents, a statistic he would do well to remember over the next few months. These residents are gray wolves, red wolves, and Mexican gray wolves, and they all stand to be impacted by the Congressman’s future votes regarding the Endangered Species Act.

In December, Congressman Lawler ignored his constituents, both human and wolf, when he voted to advance H.R.845, a bill that would reinstate the first Trump administration’s unscientific rule removing ESA protections for gray wolves across 44 states. The bill advanced out of the House by narrow margins and made us wonder, is Congressman Lawler not the animal lover that he claims to be? We know that wolves will be killed if H.R.845 becomes law.

After Congressman Lawler voted against the majority of Americans who support continued gray wolf protections, he then quickly announced his co-sponsorship of the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons (SAW) Act, which would ban the use of snowmobiles to kill wolves. We applaud the Congressman’s leadership in attempting to stop animal torture and cruelty, but we can’t help but recognize the irony; this legislation is needed because wolves do not have ESA protections in certain states.

Ultimately, Congressman Lawler’s reputation as a supporter of animals and science will be put to the test in coming weeks when the House votes on H.R. 1897, which would dismantle the ESA. Will he be a voice for animals, and his constituents, or will he once again vote against our best interests?

Be like a wolf, Congressman. Be a leader.

Martha Hunt HandlerBoard president, Wolf Conservation CenterSouth Salem