Support PAW! We Can Save Our Wolves!
- by: Leila Merosands Private Citizen
- recipient: U.S. Senate
Most American wolves are in Alaska, but there aren't many, by scientifically supported standards. Our wolves are being slaughtered at an extremely aggressive rate, using illegal and extraordinarily cruel methods of killing, which are strenuously opposed by wildlife management experts. Mothers and cubs are killed in their dens, and wolves run to exhaustion, until they can be shot point blank by landed aircraft. If they're lucky, they escape to they die an agonzing death from wounds. Many of the aircraft are private, and this extremist horror is well established as being done by and for wealthy "sport" hunters of the same kind that support "canned hunts". The wolves' corpses are often displayed on the aircraft, and the sound alone causes permanent damage to numerous forms of wildlife. Wolves have been documented vomiting from terror and stress while they run from aerial gunning; any sane person can easily understand that their emotional agony must be unimaginable.
Overwhelmingly opposed by Alaskan wildlife workers and experts, as well as voters, this atrocity is possible only because Governor Palin and her personally appointed "Board of Game", has forcefully overrun all opposition, solely in support of powerful special interests.
A majority of hunters are opposed to aerial gunning, and its illegality (since 1972) is evaded by blatantly false claims, in opposition to all available data and scientific opinion; not that Governor Palin pretends to take the claims seriously anyway, having complained on record about wildlife conservation interfering with big oil interests, and other extremist groups.
This mass slaughter of Alaska's wolves, is expected by scientists to severely damage Alaska's ecology as a whole, potentially beyond restoration.
Only Congress can stop Palin, and Representative George Miller (CA) has introduced the PAW Act, H.R. 3663, named to Protect America's Wildlife. The PAW Act would stop aerial gunning of wildlife, which is also now planned by some other states that have dangerously low wolf populations, for good. We can't assume Congress will pass this, given the political pressures and powerful interests involved; big oil also supports Alaska's decimation. We must let them know that the American people know about this, and care greatly, in spite of lack of media coverage, and we must take our strongest stand. The wolves don't have much time.
Overwhelmingly opposed by Alaskan wildlife workers and experts, as well as voters, this atrocity is possible only because Governor Palin and her personally appointed "Board of Game", has forcefully overrun all opposition, solely in support of powerful special interests.
A majority of hunters are opposed to aerial gunning, and its illegality (since 1972) is evaded by blatantly false claims, in opposition to all available data and scientific opinion; not that Governor Palin pretends to take the claims seriously anyway, having complained on record about wildlife conservation interfering with big oil interests, and other extremist groups.
This mass slaughter of Alaska's wolves, is expected by scientists to severely damage Alaska's ecology as a whole, potentially beyond restoration.
Only Congress can stop Palin, and Representative George Miller (CA) has introduced the PAW Act, H.R. 3663, named to Protect America's Wildlife. The PAW Act would stop aerial gunning of wildlife, which is also now planned by some other states that have dangerously low wolf populations, for good. We can't assume Congress will pass this, given the political pressures and powerful interests involved; big oil also supports Alaska's decimation. We must let them know that the American people know about this, and care greatly, in spite of lack of media coverage, and we must take our strongest stand. The wolves don't have much time.
Dear Senators,
We%u2019re writing because of our profound concern about the mass slaughter of wolves in Alaska; aerial hunting has been illegal since 1972, and the claims used to evade the law are in opposition to available data and scientifically supported wildlife management. Neither are they intended to be taken seriously, as Governor Palin has been documented in complaining that wildlife conservation threatens gas and oil interests.
Aerial gunning is an exceptionally cruel practice, being used against mothers and cubs in their dens. Wolves forced to run from aerial assault have been documented vomiting due to terror and stress; they are run to exhaustion, at which point aircraft land, if they can%u2019t finish killing them at point blank range otherwise. Wounded wolves also suffer terribly if they die of wounds, by collapsing where they%u2019re difficult to reach.
Other states, in which wolves were only reintroduced in 1995, are now planning to use aerial gunning against them, and Alaska is also using it against bears, also during denning and birth season. It%u2019s well established that aerial gunning is only done for the benefit of %u201Csport%u201D hunters, even though many hunters oppose it. Private aircraft are typically used, with wolves%u2019 corpses often displayed on the aircraft; Governor Palin also issued a $150 bounty for the legs of aerially shot wolves, thankfully overturned by a state court.
Governor Palin and the Alaska Board of Game, all of which is Governor appointed, supports this savage practice in spite of overwhelming opposition from Alaskan voters. State game agencies are mostly funded by hunting and related fees; it%u2019s clear the only reason for this brutal decimation of our remaining wolf population is purely political, for the benefit of special interests, while the American people are horrified at the loss of one of our most precious national treasures, and the violation of our most cherished values. Most of our wolves are in Alaska, but their numbers are low there; the possibility of extinction of wolves in our country is very real, and far too near.
In addition to having no legitimate rationale, or serious attempt to pretend any, this destruction of our wolf population is extremely damaging to the larger ecology, in which wolves have a crucial and complex role. Wolf and bear management must be done by qualified, ecologically intelligent people.
Alaska Wildlife Troopers have presented strong opposition to this barbarism, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are concerned about risks to humans, in outdoor activity areas at their peak season.
Alaska is one of the most beautiful and ecologically wealthy places on Earth. Our nation is deeply impoverished by this cruel and irrational practice, and certainly disgraced.
The PAW Act, H.R. 3663, introduced by Representative George Miller, would end aerial %u201Chunting%u201D for good. We urge, in the strongest possible terms, that you give the Protect America%u2019s Wildlife Act all of your support. Please give this your best consideration and support genuine American needs and values. We are waiting for your response, because wildlife can%u2019t.
The Undersigned
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWe%u2019re writing because of our profound concern about the mass slaughter of wolves in Alaska; aerial hunting has been illegal since 1972, and the claims used to evade the law are in opposition to available data and scientifically supported wildlife management. Neither are they intended to be taken seriously, as Governor Palin has been documented in complaining that wildlife conservation threatens gas and oil interests.
Aerial gunning is an exceptionally cruel practice, being used against mothers and cubs in their dens. Wolves forced to run from aerial assault have been documented vomiting due to terror and stress; they are run to exhaustion, at which point aircraft land, if they can%u2019t finish killing them at point blank range otherwise. Wounded wolves also suffer terribly if they die of wounds, by collapsing where they%u2019re difficult to reach.
Other states, in which wolves were only reintroduced in 1995, are now planning to use aerial gunning against them, and Alaska is also using it against bears, also during denning and birth season. It%u2019s well established that aerial gunning is only done for the benefit of %u201Csport%u201D hunters, even though many hunters oppose it. Private aircraft are typically used, with wolves%u2019 corpses often displayed on the aircraft; Governor Palin also issued a $150 bounty for the legs of aerially shot wolves, thankfully overturned by a state court.
Governor Palin and the Alaska Board of Game, all of which is Governor appointed, supports this savage practice in spite of overwhelming opposition from Alaskan voters. State game agencies are mostly funded by hunting and related fees; it%u2019s clear the only reason for this brutal decimation of our remaining wolf population is purely political, for the benefit of special interests, while the American people are horrified at the loss of one of our most precious national treasures, and the violation of our most cherished values. Most of our wolves are in Alaska, but their numbers are low there; the possibility of extinction of wolves in our country is very real, and far too near.
In addition to having no legitimate rationale, or serious attempt to pretend any, this destruction of our wolf population is extremely damaging to the larger ecology, in which wolves have a crucial and complex role. Wolf and bear management must be done by qualified, ecologically intelligent people.
Alaska Wildlife Troopers have presented strong opposition to this barbarism, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are concerned about risks to humans, in outdoor activity areas at their peak season.
Alaska is one of the most beautiful and ecologically wealthy places on Earth. Our nation is deeply impoverished by this cruel and irrational practice, and certainly disgraced.
The PAW Act, H.R. 3663, introduced by Representative George Miller, would end aerial %u201Chunting%u201D for good. We urge, in the strongest possible terms, that you give the Protect America%u2019s Wildlife Act all of your support. Please give this your best consideration and support genuine American needs and values. We are waiting for your response, because wildlife can%u2019t.
The Undersigned
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