From the IFAW:Poisoning, trapping, and shooting. That's the fate awaiting gray wolves after the Bush administration's proposal to "delist" them from the Endangered Species List takes effect. Removal of the animal from the list means their habitat is open to exploitation by corporate special interests. Worse, the animals are left at the mercy of state governments eager to resume mass hunting -- and make no mistake, the guns are already loaded and waiting.
"The conservation efforts of the past two decades brought the wolves back from the brink of extinction. But the move to delist them will quickly reverse these gains and decimate the species. While the Bush administration wants you to believe that wolves have fully recovered, the truth is there are still too few of these animals and their future is uncertain.
Officials in the Fish and Wildlife Service are hoping to do away with the critical protections for wolves with as little attention from the public as possible. Did they consider the wolves' essential role in the ecosystem? Wolves' removal will cause a devastating domino effect for the entire Northern Rockies environment. That is why it is critical for concerned citizens to speak out."
From the NRDC:As the Bush Administration pushes ahead with a plan to strip Greater Yellowstone's wolves of federal protection, it has announced a separate proposal that would authorize the mass killing of wolves as early as October -- even while they are still on the endangered species list.
Government agencies have already purchased planes and helicopters that are capable of gunning down entire packs of wolves in minutes, and state officials have said they would begin slaughtering wolves immediately if the administration's scheme is approved, reversing more than a decade of recovery efforts. Idaho and Wyoming have announced plans to kill off some 700 wolves – more than half of the current population in the northern Rockies.
"The Bush Administration wants to be able to kill wolves wherever elk herd numbers may be affected by wolves. It is focusing on areas where elk herds are smaller than the states want. But those few cases of declines in elk herds have been caused by a combination of factors including habitat destruction, drought and human hunting -- not just by wolves. And in most areas of the Northern Rockies, elk numbers are at all-time highs.
Instead of killing wolves, Idaho and Wyoming should be redoubling their efforts to protect wolves in the face of mounting development and other habitat destruction. We are calling on NRDC Action Fund supporters to speak out now for wolf protection!"
THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME. THE DEADLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK OUT IS AUGUST 6TH! And please keep this thread kicked if it's important to you so we can get as many public comments as possible. Thanks!
Please send a comment now:NRDC site:
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/actionfund_wolfaerialor
IFAW site:
http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/Wolf_10j_Reg_Alert_8_07?rk=81SpcYF1otieE?source=ifaw_swap&tr=y&auid=2886274
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