The gray wolves have been fighting extinction since the mid 1900’s. Their population in the United States has been steadily increasing since they were put on the endangered species list in 1974. The wolves are killed for a number of reasons. The main one seeming to be farmers or ranchers hunting them to protect their livestock. Another being that their protections get rolled back far too frequently. Governor Brad Little, of Idaho, has signed into law an act aiming to cut the wolf population by 90%. In Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte has made it so that an unlimited number of wolves can be killed by trappers and trophy hunters. Wisconsin had a hunt that took the lives of more than 200 of these wolves. Despite Michigan’s majority voting against wolf-hunts, the minority disproportionately influences lawmakers. USDA’s Wildlife Services Killed 386 Wolves in 2020 to benefit the Livestock Industry. Gray wolves going extinct could be devastating to ecosystems as they’re considered a keystone species. This means they bring balance. By keeping prey populations, such as elk, at bay, it allows for vegetation to grow and flourish. Wolves are an important part of keeping major ecosystems from collapsing.