Dec 14, 2025
On December 28, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) marks its anniversary. The ESA may not be a law that features in most Americans’ daily dialogue, but it is a law that has profoundly reshaped the American landscape. For Jewel Tomasula, America the Beautiful for All Coalition Wildlife Workgroup Co-Lead and Policy Director at the Endangered Species Coalition, fighting to keep the ESA is vital.
She describes how this law is responsible for the stunning array of wildlife we are lucky enough to live with today. Even living in a suburban neighborhood, she witnesses the majesty of animals once under threat; the most resonant with her being the bald eagle.
This species, she explains, captures the heart of the ESA’s success. Bald eagles - once pushed to the brink of extinction - are now common enough to appear in everyday places, yet still awe-inspiring every time. “That combination brings me so much joy,” she says. “It reminds me why this work matters.”
It wasn’t always this way. In the early 1900s, bald eagles were widely viewed as a nuisance. Their populations were unregulated, they were frequently shot by landowners, and poisoned (both intentionally and unintentionally). by pesticides. Existing laws weren’t strong enough to protect them. “Without the ESA,” Tomasula says, “we simply didn’t have the coordinated, enforceable framework needed to save them.”
The Act changed that. By aligning scientists, policymakers, and the public, the ESA enabled bald eagles to be reintroduced and protected long enough to recover. Today, their presence across the continent has become a point of national pride. “Seeing them flourish again shows what’s possible when we commit to protecting wildlife,” Jewel says.
Jewel also introduces a species with a similar story - wolves.
Grey wolves once ranged widely across North America, but by the time the ESA was passed, their numbers had collapsed. “They were truly at the edge,” Jewel explains. “Now, because of the ESA, there are several thousand. This is an incredible turnaround, but the work isn’t done.” Grey wolves remain listed as endangered, a reminder that recovery is a process, not a single victory.
For Jewel, wolves represent something deeper than population numbers. “As a nation, we made a statement by passing the ESA,” she says. “We said we are not going to accept living in a country without wolves.” Philosophically, she sees this as a rejection of the idea that only the powerful or profitable deserve input into which wildlife makes up our ecosystems. “It’s about not privileging the exclusive few, their industries or interests—over the shared natural heritage we all depend on.”
Her connection to wolves began early. Growing up alongside tribal communities, she saw how wolves were honored as sacred figures. Later, popular culture added another layer. “The movie Balto was monumental for me as a kid,” she recalls with a smile. “Wolves captured my imagination; they’re beautiful, intelligent, and their social structures are fascinating. They work as a pack.”
Recently, she visited ambassador grey wolves at a conservation center in New York State. Even after years of policy work, the experience stayed with her. “Seeing them up close reinforces why protection matters,” she says. “These aren’t abstract ideas. These are living beings.”
At its core, Jewel believes the ESA is powerful because it speaks for the people. “It allows members of the public to formally petition for a species to be listed,” she explains. “You have to do the work, but the door is open.” Just as importantly, the law includes accountability. If the government falls short, citizens can take direct action.
“That’s what makes the ESA so special,” Jewel says. “It can override business interests and capitalist hierarchies. Love and advocacy for nature can prevail. It empowers people to protect what they love.”
This past year, she admits, has been one of the toughest in the ESA’s modern history. Political threats and proposed rollbacks have tested advocates nationwide. But Jewel remains resolute. “Proposals are just proposals,” she says. “They’re not making it through because people are showing up.”
Across the country, she’s seen individuals donate their time, monitor species, support education efforts, and advocate relentlessly. “It’s inspiring,” she says. “People know we have to step up, and they are.” That is why the America the Beautiful for All Coalition is educating communities about the importance of the ESA, and equipping more communities with the knowledge and tools they need to defend threatened and endangered species.
As the ESA marks its December 28 anniversary, Tomasula feels clear-eyed but hopeful. “There’s so much to fight for,” she says. “And there’s so much to be hopeful about. When you see an eagle overhead or hear about wolves reclaiming their range, you realize: this law works. And it’s worth defending.”
This story was shared with permission. The storyteller maintained editorial review rights over their narrative.
