The Wolf Preservation Blog

“Defender’s of Wildlife,” a non-profit organization, has issued the following information about aerial gunning of wolves in Idaho:

“In one of its first moves since retaking the reins of wolf management, Idaho officials last week called in Wildlife Services — the federal government’s chief wildlife-killing agency — to kill wolves in the central part of the state.

Federal marksmen took to the skies in Idaho’s Lolo wilderness, targeting up to 60 wolves to help artificially boost game populations in the region.
Using radio collars to track down wolf packs in the area, the airborne marksmen only managed to kill five wolves. The mission was quickly abandoned, described as both inefficient and expensive by the Wildlife Services agents themselves.

But that’s not stopping Idaho’s plan to kill dozens of wolves in the region to artificially boost elk populations. Wildlife Services could continue gunning from the skies and trapping on the ground.

Wildlife Services is a program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their mission is to “create a balance that allows people and wildlife to coexist peacefully.” Idaho officials claim that wolves are a major cause of elk declines in certain parts of the state. But the science says otherwise: In 23 of 29 elk management zones, populations of these animals are at or above targets. In fact, many of the areas experiencing declines contain few or no wolves.

And the Clearwater National Forest — an area targeted by Wildlife Services’ aerial gunning plan — was experiencing steep declines in elk numbers in 1988, well before wolves returned to the area.

Science tells us that predator populations are naturally maintained by their prey population levels — almost never the other way around. But Wildlife Services’ plan kills wolves for doing what they do naturally: Preying on elk and fulfilling their ecological role in a natural system.

But instead, they have become the federal government’s de facto wildlife hitmen — heavily relying on killing wildlife rather than using proven, effective non-lethal methods of control.

Now, it seems, Wildlife Services has gotten into the business of killing wolves to artificially boost elk populations.”

Help stop Wildlife Services’ terrible wolf-killing operation to artificially boost elk populations in Idaho by visiting this link and signing a petition!
(http://action.defenders.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=67181.0&printer_friendly=1) **Please encourage others to petition against the aerial gunning of wolves!

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Wolf packs, including PUPS, are closer to extermination by greedy politicians and wolf haters. Please make your voice loud……NOW! It’s time to step it up wolf supporters!

Thanks to Wolf Warriors (http://howlingforjustice.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/its-crunch-time-warriors/) for providing this CRITICAL information:
“Capital Switchboard Numbers – give the name of the Senator & you will be transferred to their office. You will then either speak to a staff member, or on the weekend – to voice mail.
When possible ask to speak to each Senator’s environmental aide. This will give you a better chance to get your message across because you will be talking to someone who is familiar with the issue.

CAPITAL SWITCHBOARD

1,866.220.0044
1.877.851.6437
1.800.833.6354
Be polite but express your outrage over the game of chess Congress is playing with wolves’ lives. The delisting language must be stripped out of the final bill.”

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“Since last fall, it has become increasingly likely that Congress would pass legislation that would be disastrous for wolves and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although Defenders has steadfastly opposed that legislation, we became convinced that the only real hope of stopping it was to reach a settlement of the litigation we brought in 2009 successfully challenging Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s illegal decision to remove federal protection from wolves in the Northern Rockies.

Accordingly, on March 18, 2011, we joined with nine other conservation organizations in filing with the U.S. District Court in Montana a settlement agreement we negotiated with the Interior Department. Like any settlement agreement, this one is a compromise, but one that we are convinced was necessary to help avert what could easily be the most disastrous assault on the ESA since that monumental law took effect nearly four decades ago. We are also convinced that, if the agreement is approved by the court and all parties live up to their responsibilities, it will provide a path in which wolves will continue to recover in the Northern Rockies and science, not politics, will prevail.

Whatever happens now, we will continue to lead the effort both for wolves and the ESA going forward. Below you will find more detailed answers to questions about the settlement and what our next steps will be to ensure the long-term future of wolves across the Northern Rockies.

All of us at Defenders of Wildlife are extremely grateful for your continued support in our ongoing efforts to save America’s wolves.

Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen”

**Please respond with your thoughts! 

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“In his recent “A 21st Century Strategy for America’s Great Outdoors” announcement, President Obama emphasized the urgency for the Federal government to “Use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands and waters for future generations.”

To support this vision, Forest Planning Alternatives—especially in the wolf recovery area in the Apache-Sitgreaves Forests— must include restoration of resilient ecosystems that restore natural processes, including native species, predation, and wildlife connectivity. 

Forests need top predators. The full-scale removal of wolves and fewer mountain lions have compromised the integrity of our wild lands. In Yellowstone National Park, reintroduced wolves keep elk moving and prevent excessive grazing in riparian areas and wetlands, allowing willows and cottonwoods to return to streambeds. This in turn, supports the return of beaver, fish, and birds. Wolves are critical to healthy ecosystems!!!!

Tell the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest that the current range of alternatives is simply not acceptable.

1. The alternatives are skewed toward the maximum mechanical treatment/resource extraction/ motorized alternative that includes illegal declassifying of Inventoried Roadless Areas. This skewing imperils our Mexican gray wolves and is NOT acceptable.

2. Wolves need wilderness and large roadless areas. Include all of the 36 possible wilderness areas and wilderness additions.

3. Wolves need more protection because of the critical role they play in healthy forests; the plan needs to directly address changes that will help with the recovery of this species:
• Developing and enforcing a closed pasture calving and season,
• Reducing the number of livestock in areas of conflict with wolves,
• seasonal grazing only,
• Requiring grazing permittees to dispose of, or render unpalatable, all livestock carcasses before wolves are able to begin scavenging on them.
• Supporting and encouraging voluntary retirement of allotments.

Website: www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/plan-revision
E-mail: asnf.planning@fs.fed.us
Phone: (928) 333-4301        TTY: (928) 333-6292″

**Thank you to “Lobos of the Southwest” for providing this information!
http://www.mexicanwolves.org/index.php/news/153/51/Take-Action-by-April-30-Deadline

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