Wildlife Services: Exposed

Each year, Wildlife Services -- a program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- kills more than 100,000 animals in the name of livestock protection. Idaho officials recently called on the program to kill 14 wolves in the Clearwater National Forest in order to artificially boost game populations for hunters.

Now, reporter Tom Knudson of the Sacramento Bee focuses his Pulitzer Prize-winning journalistic eye on Wildlife Services -- and finds a brutal form of managing wildlife that is oftentimes ineffective.

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The Problem with Wildlife Services

The problem with Wildlife Services is simple: The federal program relies too heavily on killing to resolve conflicts with wildlife. All too often, these methods are brutal, expensive and ineffective, with 100,000 animals killed each year. Tens of thousands of animals have been killed by mistake over the past decade -- including family pets and federally protected wildlife.

The solution for Wildlife Services is simple as well: Stop the kill-first mentality when it comes to wildlife -- and focus on using proven non-lethal deterrents to effectively resolve conflicts.

But this simple change won't come without your voice.

Please speak out now and urge Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to reform Wildlife Services from the federal government's top wildlife killers to a program that can truly resolve wildlife conflicts.

Bison Babies!

A new generation of genetically pure, wild bison is roaming the tribal lands of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Since March, 13 calves have been born to the herd that Defenders and our supporters helped relocate from confinement near Yellowstone National Park.

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Feds Announce Sea Turtle Protections

Federal officials have proposed new protections for sea turtles in inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico and southeast Atlantic Ocean. The rules were developed as part of a settlement of a lawsuit brought by Defenders and our conservation partners.

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Slowing to Save Manatees

Manatees scored an important win in Flagler Country, Florida as new "slow zones" will go into effect for the summer boating season. For nearly 15 years, Defenders has been advocating for slower boat speeds in waters where manatees live.

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Kenai Wolves' Reprieve

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game delayed a planned aerial gunning program on the state's iconic Kenai Penninsula in order to pursue more study on the decline of moose in the area. Defenders has long advocated for a more science-based approach to wolf management.

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Preservation Proposal Introduced

California lawmakers introduced national legislation to permanently protect the Berryessa Snow Mountain region in the state's famed Redwood Coast. For four years, Defenders has been fighting to protect this biologically rich area and the wildlife that live there.

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Wolf Week Success!

On the first anniversary of the delisting of wolves in Idaho and Montana, we called on Defenders supporters to send us photos showing that they care for wolves.

The response was amazing! Hundreds posted personalized pictures to our Facebook page with creativity and passionate support for wolves.

All told, the week of action to help stop Idaho's war on wolves was an enormous success. Defenders supporters sent more than 150,000 messages to Idaho Governor "Butch" Otter, Congress and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. And hundreds of posts dominated the Facebook pages of these officials calling for Idaho's wolves to be treated as wildlife -- not vermin.

Thanks to all who participated in helping shine the national spotlight on Idaho's extreme anti-wolf policies.

See our Facebook photo album of Defenders showing their support for wolves.

Haven't taken action, yet? Visit our Wolf Action Toolkit to speak out for Idaho's wolves!