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Survival of Wolves in Northern Rockies Jeopardized
"Take Action" by Aug. 6 to protect them from hunters
 In July, the Bush Administration issued two proposals that could result in the killing of more than 700 wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain states of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. The 30-day comment period for the public to tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reject both of these proposed rule changes ends on August 6th.
Reintroduction of wolves to the Rockies has been extremely successful, but it has taken wildlife biologists decades of hard work and millions in tax dollars to accomplish. Yet hunters are now complaining that wolves are killing too many elk and deer, leaving fewer to shoot, despite the fact that ungulate populations in all three states are at very high levels. The Bush Administration proposals serve hunting interests and threaten important conservation efforts and the ecological balance of the region.
Here's the story behind the two proposed rule changes:
1) "10(j)" rule: Subsection (j) in Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) allows reintroduction of a species to a habitat from which it has been eradicated. Wolves were reintroduced to many parts of the Northern Rockies over a decade ago under this rule, and their numbers have since grown to about 1,500 strong. The proposed revisions to the 10(j) rule would basically remove wolves from protection under the ESA in Idaho and Montana, allowing the states to kill wolves almost at will. It could even legalize aerial gunning using planes and helicopters in these states.
2) Adding Wyoming to the plan to de-list wolves under the ESA: This would enable the shooting of wolves on-sight in over three-quarters of the state for "attacking" livestock or "game" animals. It would also make it much more difficult for wolves to move between three key wolf recovery ecosystems without getting killed. It could also open the way for aerial gunning, increased trapping, baiting, and even poisoning of wolves.
All three states have already announced their intentions to kill as many wolves as allowed, and to manage wolf populations at the bare legal minimum. Yet wolves are already threatened by a number of other factors, including road building and logging in their habitat, lethal traps, and the projected impacts of global warming. We must take action now to ensure wolves remain protected under the ESA.
What You Can Do
Please "Take Action" to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reject the two proposals submitted by the Bush Administration to weaken protections for wolves in Idaho and Montana and in Wyoming. Also follow up with a letter or your own email (be sure to include the following in your subject line):
- 10(j) rule: (wolfrulechange@fws.gov) "RIN #1018-AV39"
- Wyoming wolf delisting: (westerngraywolf@fws.gov) "RIN #1018-AU53"
Mail letters to:
Edward E. Bangs
Western Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
585 Shepard Way
Helena, Montana 59601
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