On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at removing protections for gray and Mexican wolves. The gray and Mexican wolves are species that are endangered; around the United States, there are approximately 18,000 gray wolves and 319 Mexican wolves. Despite the fact that both wolf breeds are endangered, the legislation could also affect other wolves, such as the red wolves which are on the endangered list. Lincoln Larson, a professor in the College of Natural Resources, explained how wolves are predators, killing prey such as deer, elk, and other animals. When wolves aren’t present, those types of animals begin to overpopulate, disrupting the ecosystem. Larson said that the reason behind the Endangered Species Act is to help bring species back to a point where the species is healthy enough to exist without protection. According to Larson, the idea of removing species from the list can be good; however, it depends on the species’ population quantit...