From the Endangered Species Coalition (https://www.endangered.org/):
Gray wolves in Idaho are in incredible danger. Idaho, and neighboring Montana, are now allowing virtually unlimited trapping, hunting, and other inhumane killing methods of gray wolves.
Go to https://civicshout.com/p/tell-interior-secretary-haaland-to-protect-gray-wolves to tell Secretary of the Department of Interior Deb Haaland to follow the guidance of scientists, Tribal leaders, legal scholars, and activists and protect Northern Rockies gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act as the law allows her to do.
Over the last winter, hundreds of wolves—moms, dads, and pups—were killed in the Northern Rockies including at least 25 from Yellowstone National Park. According to scientists in the park, at least one pack was wholly destroyed by hunters and trappers1 who killed them after they crossed out of the Park and into Idaho and Montana.
It took decades to bring these wolves back. The Trump Administration destroyed that progress. And now the Biden Administration continues the destruction through inaction, delay, and even failure to follow the law. As wolves are killed, their families are torn apart, Yellowstone loses precious ecosystem services, years of scientific research2 are set back, and the livelihoods of individuals living near Yellowstone, who rely on wolf-related tourism dollars, are threatened.
Tell the Biden Administration to end the delay and act before it’s too late.
When the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) delisted Northern Rockies wolves, it assured the public that if a state made substantial changes to wolf management and authorized unlimited and unregulated killing, the federal agency would pursue an emergency listing of wolves.
Northern Rockies states have done exactly that. They have made substantial changes that amount to unlimited and unregulated killing. Idaho implemented an open season with no limits—resulting in 500+ wolves killed in 2021. Most were killed as part of a state-funded bounty program that pays up to $2,500 for each wolf killed including newborn pups in their dens!
Montana increased hunting and trapping, including using indiscriminate neck snares, night hunting, baiting, and paying bounties. And it increased the limit of wolves that could be killed along Yellowstone’s boundary, leading to a record 25 Park wolves killed this past season, as they ventured past the Park.
Secretary Haaland and FWS Director Williams said “they are watching the population numbers.” But the “numbers” are being calculated by the states. And an independent scientific review3 shows that they’re not counting correctly. Watching states tally false numbers does not fulfill FWS’s duty to protect wolves. It is not enough. Secretary Haaland and the FWS must do as promised when they delisted the Northern Rockies wolves and issue an emergency relisting! Please add your name to tell them to do so.
Thank you for your commitment to wildlife and wild places.
Links not working? https://civicshout.com/p/tell-interior-secretary-haaland-to-protect-gray-wolves
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