Bush/Cheney Admin. Puts Hundreds of Yellowstone Area Wolves at Risk
While most Americans have been celebrating the holidays, officials in the Bush/Cheney Administration have been working behind the scenes to pave the way for the killing of hundreds of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area.
Over the last several weeks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been quietly moving forward with rule changes that would allow officials in Idaho and Wyoming to begin killing wolves even before gray wolves are removed from the list of federally protected threatened and endangered species.
This latest proposal would jump start plans to use fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and other means to kill hundreds of wolves in Idaho, leaving only a few more than 200 wolves in the state. In fact, three-quarters of the wolves in the Lolo District of the Clearwater National Forest could be removed… even before they are de-listed.
And, unfortunately, it’s not just Idaho’s wolves that are threatened by the proposal. Hundreds of wolves in Wyoming could be shot and trapped under the new rules -- whether wolves are removed from the endangered and threatened species list or not.
And the outlook for Wyoming wolves won’t improve any if, as expected, the Bush/Cheney Administration eliminates Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies early next year.
On December 14th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially approved the State of Wyoming’s wolf management plan, allowing state officials to use aerial gunning and snares to shoot and trap as many as two-thirds of the wolves in the state.
Just last week, Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), George Miller (D-CA), Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Norm Dicks (D-WA) warned in a letter to Secretary Kempthorne that de-listing wolves in the Northern Rockies now is a mistake.
In the letter, this bipartisan group of lawmakers cited grave concerns with the state wolf management plans approved by the Bush/Cheney Administration and their potential impact on the future of wolves in the region.
Defenders is mustering our resources to fight these terrible proposals in the weeks ahead. But right now, we need you to speak out for wolves with your message.
For the Wild Ones,
Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife |