Prevent Delisting of Wolves in Northern Rocky Mountain States
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extends public comment period
 As we reported in our February 14th eNews, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering whether to take the gray wolf off of the endangered species list in the Northern Rocky Mountain states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, as well as parts of Utah, Washington, and Oregon. Thankfully, we still have time to prevent the decimation of this species that conservationists have spent decades reintroducing and protecting in their native habitat, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended the public comment period on its proposal until May 9th, 2007.
Wolves are important apex predators who help maintain balance in the ecosystems of which they are an integral part. The Canis lupus helps keep elk, antelope, and other ungulate populations in check so that they don't expand beyond what their food supply can sustain, simultaneously preserving space for smaller mammals like rodents. A diverse range of species -- including birds, foxes, coyotes, and even bears -- feed off of the remains of carcasses left by wolves. Their hunting range is often very wide, sometimes exceeding 1,000 square miles, as they travel in packs, hunting and raising their pups together.
Gray wolves were here long before humans, and should be respected, not eradicated. Please speak up for these animals while there is still time.
What You Can Do
1) Please send your comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before May 9th, 2007 politely urging them not to remove wolves from the endangered species list in the Northern Rocky Mountain States.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wolf Delisting
585 Shepard Way
Helena, MT 59601
Email: NRMGrayWolf@fws.gov
2) Thanks to the efforts of U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold the seventh in a series of public meetings on the wolf delisting proposal. This one will take place on Thursday, April 19th in Cody, Wyo. If you live in or will be visiting the area, please attend this meeting and speak out on the wolves' behalf.
What: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hearing on gray wolf delisting
When: Thursday, April 19th - open house from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.,
public hearing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Cody Auditorium, 1240 Beck Avenue, Cody, Wyo.
map
For more information, please contact Melissa Gonzalez at melissa@idausa.org or (415) 448-0048, ext. 228. |
