1995 Federal biologists reintroduce the gray wolf to the Yellowstone ecosystem and wilderness areas of Idaho. In their Contract With America, conservatives in Congress take aim at environmental laws. A denizen of these woodlands, the endangered northern spotted owl, continues to slide. But President Bill Clinton vetoes another budget bill containing a rider that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. John Flicker succeeds Peter Berle as Audubon president.
Fishermen agree to modify the nets so more birds can escape unharmed.
Republicans try but fail to weaken the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency. Audubon lobbyists help beat back attempts in Congress to weaken the Endangered Species Act. They also help derail another version of the Garrison Diversion Project in North Dakota. 1998 Republicans announce plans for a multimillion-dollar cleanup of California's Salton Sea as a memorial to the late entertainer Sonny Bono, who was the area's representative in Congress. Lisa Gosselin becomes editor of Audubon.