Thursday, January 31, 2013

Stop Reckless Hunting and Trapping of Wolves in the Northern Rockies


Following is an important update from Defenders of Wildlife: 
In the coming days we will reach a heartbreaking milestone:
The 1,000th wolf will die from hunting and trapping in the Northern Rockies since Congress stripped gray wolves of their Endangered Species Act protection in 2011. 
Mothers, pups and packs have fallen to hunters’ bullets and traps – 990 at last count in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. It’s a tragic, unsustainable toll, and it cannot be allowed to go on.
Make no mistake – there is a war on wolves and these magnificent and misunderstood top predators need our help.
Among the most recent victims of this reckless killing was OR16, an Oregon-born male wearing a radio collar. He was shot on January 19thin Idaho.
OR16 was a remarkable wolf. His wanderings took him through three states and he even swam the Snake River. Yet, after his astonishing journey, he made the tragic mistake of crossing into Idaho. He lasted only 33 days there, and was the second Oregon wolf to be killed in Idaho.
Now we’re looking at the loss of nearly 1,000 wolves in just two years.This accelerated killing is an example of how states like Wyoming are managing wolves as vermin to be eliminated, not as wildlife to be managed responsibly. There is no basis for allowing this many wolves to be killed this quickly. It’s 100% politics that is driving state management.
The restoration of wolves in the Lower 48 is one of the greatest success stories of the Endangered Species Act. It’s tragic that in this day and age we are still fighting myths, misconceptions and old hatreds toward these magnificent animals.
Defenders of Wildlife is America’s premier advocacy organization working to protect endangered wildlife. Our science and legal teams are renowned in the field. We are the voice of wildlife in Washington, DC – and we are your voice as well.
We will not let politics get in the way of our work for wolves. Your urgent support today will make a big difference.
Thank you for all that you do. 
For our wildlife,
Jamie Rappaport Clark
President
Defenders of Wildlife

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