More Wolves to be Protected

[Sourdough]

That's right Defenders Of Wildlife have targeted their next state for expansion of Wolves, to destroy hunting and the wildlife in the area.  Washington State, they just sent out an e-mail for the people in Washington to contact their Governor and raise their voices in favor of this release.  Here is a copy of the e-mail put out this morning.  Rog




We’re at the beginning of a great conservation achievement: the return of wolves to Washington State.

This is a key moment for wolf restoration in Washington, and I need a few moments of your time today to make it a success.

Help pave the way for wolf restoration in Washington. Urge Governor Christine Gregoire to support a robust wolf recovery plan in Washington.

Decades after they were eliminated from the state, these iconic animals have finally begun to make their way back to the Evergreen State. Unfortunately, the return of these magnificent animals to an important part of their historic range is anything but easy.

Earlier this month, the state began to review a progressive wolf management plan that would allow these amazing animals to roam throughout much of their traditional range. But the plan falls short of what will ultimately be needed to fully recover wolves in Washington.

Tell Governor Christine Gregoire to support allowing more wolves in the state and to expand the range where they will be allowed to roam.

These wolves truly are an American treasure, and it’s important that we speak out for their restoration.

We know from reintroduction efforts in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies that wolves help balance natural ecosystems and that they can bring tourism dollars to states that support their recovery (as much as $35 million a year near Yellowstone, according to one study!)   

We also know that anti-wolf extremists can be a serious roadblock to recovery efforts. Some are pushing hard for a low cap on the number of wolves that would be allowed to inhabit Washington – a bad precedent for wolves or any other wildlife.

And just last week, indictments were handed down for the killing of five of Washington’s wolves. Defenders has offered money to help reward information leading to the prosecution of these lawless wolf killers, but we’re also working to build broader acceptance of wolves in Washington, collaborating with ranchers and local tribal members to pave the way for smart, sustainable wolf recovery.

We’re at the start of something great here, and I want you to be a part of it. Please send your message to Governor Gregoire today.

Sincerely,
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXX, Defenders of Wildlife    
Executive Vice President
Defenders of Wildlife

[Conan The Librarian]

Wolves are good eatin'. Especially the little ones.

[oldandslow]

The Game Commission in New Mexico met last week and voted to remove the state from the Mexican wolf restoration project. They said they were going to let the Feds deal with it alone and not waste any more state resources on it. It has NOT been a popular program and has had a lot of problems since it was initiated.

[gomerdog]

Wolf advocates have no integrity. The wolves that were released in Montana, Idaho, and Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) were originally designated as "experimental," meaning that if they got into trouble, they could be removed. As many of you know, the population exploded rapidly, causing trouble for livestock owners and others. Instead of staying inside Yellowstone, we in Wyoming now have wolves hundreds of miles outside the designated recovery zones. The recovery goals agreed to by proponents of wolves (stated clearly in the Endangered Species Act recovery plan) have been met and exceeded for years, but wolf preservation groups weren't satisfied. They now want wolves everywhere. This is akin to welshing on a bet. These people cannot be trusted.

These people have the ears of sympathetic judges who with one signature can reverse the delisting decisions of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act. It's been done for both wolves and grizzly bears in the Rockies. Judge Don Malloy of Missoula, Montana is the one, and he has to go!

Some elk populations in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho are so drastically reduced from wolf and grizzly bear (another threatened predator species that has met its recovery goals) predation that hunting opportunities of these populations are but a small fraction of what they were 10 years ago. If you are a hunter in Washington state, and you want to continue hunting, don't let this happen to you. Wolf advocates will not later respect any agreement into which they have originally consented. It's been proven multiple times.