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WOLVES NEED FEDERAL PROTECTION
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If you have been following the war against wolves, then you already know that the U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed taking away critical federal protections under the Endangered Species Act from all gray wolves in the lower 48 states.
This proposed rule does not have a direct effect on the separate listing of the Mexican wolf as endangered under the Act.
During the short two years (January 2012 - December 2014) wolves in the Great Lakes Region were delisted, 1473 wolves were killed through hunting / trapping and another 900 were killed in control actions. These figures do not include natural mortality or those killed in car collisions or illegally.
Comment period ends May 14, 2019
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The USFWS has made it clear that
comments
merely stating opposition to the proposed delisting rule, without providing supporting information, although noted, will not meet the standard of best available scientific and commercial data.
So while signing your name to a petition, or just saying you
oppose delisting, will be noted but will have very little value.
The USFWS asks that you
include sufficient information with your submission (such as scientific journal articles or other publications).
We can help you frame your comments so that they will be considered. There will also be a Webinar (details below).
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Check out our WEBSITE Click on the RESOURCES TAB where you can find numerous peer reviewed publications to support your statement to oppose delisting.
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Listed below are just a few points you can make when submitting your comments. It is not necessary to use each one. It is important that you submit your comments by May 14, 2019.
The threats to wolves have not been sufficiently minimized to allow wolves to be delisted:
Wisconsin has a management goal of 350 (the current population is estimated to be 905-944). Among Wisconsin wildlife professionals, the 350 goal was generally considered "unscientific and outdated." The 350 goal is no longer compatible with our scientific understanding of wolf biological carrying capacity or human attitudes and tolerance of wolves in Wisconsin(Wolf Population Goals for Wisconsin - Opinions of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife Society 2016 technical report)
This proposal means that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible for wolves to naturally recolonize areas of suitable habitat, adequate prey but no state protection. S
mall recolonizing populations (≤75 wolves) take about twice as long to replace breeders and subsequently reproduce (
Brainerd et al. 2008, pp. 89, 93). Therefore, the effects of breeder loss may be greatest on small recolonizing gray wolf populations.
In 2003, Yellowstone was home to 174 wolves. That number has dropped to about 80, in part due to interpack strife but also because when wolves cross the invisible border, they are aggressively hunted.
Powell Tribune
The proposal lists the many threats facing wolves including natural mortality, car collisions, poaching, hunting/trapping, lethal control but then concludes that each individual threat will not prevent continuing growth of the population. Taken collectively, these threats could affect the gray wolf entity beyond the extent of each individual threat as evidenced with the decline of the wolf population in Yellowstone.
The proposal states, "State wildlife agencies have professional staff dedicated to disseminating accurate, science-based information about wolves and wolf management within their respective States. In addition, several States have convened advisory committees to engage stakeholders in discussing and addressing conflicts related to wolves." However, there are many examples to dispute these conclusions:
- In Michigan, MDNR official says he misspoke when talking about wolves showing no fear; MDNR never commented on a resolution containing inaccurate information. It took advocates to expose and a State Senator was forced to apologize; MDNR misled USFWS regarding human safety threats resulting in the killing of three wolves.
- In Wisconsin, the DNR wolf committee was revamped in 2013 to exclude university researchers and is now dominated by interest groups wanting to kill wolves. The Wisconsin legislature mandates that upon delisting, a wolf hunting/trapping season will occur and is the only state that allows the hunting of wolves with the use of dogs.
The proposal fails to take into consideration the positive role of wolves and there needs to be sufficient populations for wolves to fulfill their ecological niche:
- Wolves reduce unhealthy densities of deer, which in turn protects timber stocks and agriculture crops by reducing deer overbrowse. (Natural and experimental tests of trophic cascades: gray wolves and white-tailed deer in a Great Lakes forest Flagel et al)
- Evidence suggests that wolves may limit the spread of diseases such as CWD (The role of predation in disease control; A comparison of selective and nonselective removal on prion disease dynamics in deer Wild et al)
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REGISTER FOR FREE WEBINAR
April 23, 2019, at 8:00 PM EDT
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Join The Humane Society of the United States on April
23,2019, at 8:00 PM EDT to learn how YOU can fight the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed rule removing federal protections for all gray wolves across the lower 48 states!
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Make Every Day Earth Day!
The National Wolfwatcher Coalition is thrilled to announce that we've partnered with FLOAT and famed artist, Virginia Maria Romero, to bring you limited edition, wearable art, "Wolves"
For every shirt sold FLOAT will donate $8 to help us advocate for wolves.
Campaign will only run through the weekend. SHOP TODAY
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Without YOU, our loyal supporters, the National Wolfwatcher Coalition would not exist. We are appreciative of your support throughout the past years and look forward to your continued support in the future!
For the latest scientific information, please visit
OUR WEBSITE
and while there, you can shop at
OUR STORE
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We 'educate, advocate, and participate' for the long term recovery and preservation of wolves based on the best available science and the principles of democracy. We:
- Educate the public about the important role that wolves play in maintaining healthy ecosystems
- Inform the public about challenges to wolf recovery
- Support measures that promote peaceful coexistence with wolves on the landscape
- Educate the public about the issues in all regions and ways it can effectively participate in the democratic process to promote science-based decision-making about wolves.
All donations, no matter the amount, will be appreciated because they will enable us to:
- Provide educational programs, materials and events
- Participate in conferences, seminars, and consultation with other professionals in the fields of wolf biology, research, conservation, eco-tourism and environmental law.
- Secure a Wolfwatcher Legal Fund to sustain potential engagement in litigation that challenges local, state and/or federal policies that affect wolf preservation.
To DONATE online, please click the link below.
To donate by check or money order, please send your donation to our business office at: National Wolfwatcher Coalition, PO Box 161281, Duluth, MN 55816-1281
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