A congressman from The Last Frontier is drawing criticism for suggesting gray wolves could help solve the homeless problem while addressing his colleagues at the Capitol . Alaska Rep. Don Young made the remark during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing yesterday . Young , 81 , was responding to a letter 79 members of Congress sent to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell asking her to reconsider her agency 's 2011 decision to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list . Scroll down for video . Alaska Congressman Don Young , 81 , made his gray wolf remark yesterday while speaking at the Capitol . The gray wolf ( above ) was removed from the endangered species list in 2011 . Some want it put back on the list . Alaska had 1,913 homeless resident in 2012 according to a Homelessness Research Institute report . Young , a Republican , supported the decision to delist gray wolves and does not want them to reacquire protected status . During Young 's remarks to Jewell , he called the gray wolf a 'predator ' that is 'killing the cloven-hoof animals ' , according to Alaska Public Radio . He said : 'We 've got 79 Congressmen sending you a letter . 'Haven ’ t got a damn wolf in their whole district . ' I ’ d like to introduce them in your district . ' I introduce them in your district , you wouldn ’ t have a homeless problem anymore . ' Hunting wolves is allowed in Alaska . Young said a healthy wolf population would 'wreak havoc and place anything in their reach in great jeopardy ' After Young 's remark generated backlash and requests for clarification , he released a statement . Young said his comment was an 'analogy ' that was 'intended to be hyperbolic in nature ' to help highlight that wolves pose a serious problem to communities in his state . He wrote : 'Anyone who ’ s dealt with a healthy , roaming wolf population , as we have in Alaska , understands that these predators have a detrimental impact on wildlife populations . 'If you misunderstood my comments , just imagine the impact a healthy wolf population would have on your own town , community , or congressional district . 'It would wreak havoc and place anything in their reach in great jeopardy . ' There are an estimated 7,000 to 11,200 gray wolves in Alaska , according to Defenders of Wildlife . Alaska had 1,913 homeless residents in 2012 according to a Homelessness Research Institute report .
Alaska Rep. Don Young said wolves could fix homeless problem . He made the remark during a Homelessness Research Institute hearing . Federal protection of the gray wolf was the issue being discussed . Young wants gray wolf kept off of the endangered species list . He believes that a healthy wolf population would 'wreak havoc ' Gray wolves outnumber homeless people in Alaska by a wide margin .