Stop Killing America's Wolves!

  • by: Erin Marko
  • recipient: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, President Obama, Department of the Interior Secretary Sarah ‘Sally’ Jewell, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Minnesota Go

Wolves are a vital part of the ecosystem. They help keep the prey animals such as moose, deer and elk from getting overpopulated, they provide food for many scavenger species (from the pack’s kills), and they benefit the landscape by preventing the elk from downgrading the ecosystem. They are a keystone species. Wolves also have strong family bonds, and grieve if one of their own is killed. However, hunters and ranchers in the Lower 48 are starting a wolf hunting and trapping season, which could spell disaster for the wolves.

            The gray wolf was delisted in 2011, and it was the first species ever delisted for political reasons, instead of scientific reasons. This has allowed bloodthirsty hunters to slaughter innocent wolves- and for nothing than a trophy.  Unfortunately, over 2,100 wolves have been murdered since then.

Ranchers shoot wolves because they threaten their livestock- but wolves only account for 0.23% of all cattle losses. That number is very small, but the ranchers are acting like the wolf is the main cause of cattle losses. There are also humane solutions available that wouldn’t result in the death of a wolf (or wolves), and we must tell the ranchers and state officials this before it is too late.

 So please – sign this important petition and help stand up for America’s wolves.

Wolf Issues:


 


With the delisting of the Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus), the species will now be under fire from hunter’s and rancher’s bullets. However, the species was delisted for political reasons, not scientific reasons. There are also concerns that since the Gray Wolf was delisted, other species may become delisted as well (because the government has shown that this is possible, unfortunately), which may lead to other species being removed from the list.


 


Cruelty- Traps are basically a living hell.


The traps that the hunters use to trap wolves- and many other wild animals- are terribly inhumane. These so called ‘humane’ traps have very large steel ‘jaws’ that clamp down on the trapped animal, inflicting serious injury and enormous amounts of pain. In fact, some species have been scientifically proven to chew their own leg off, in desperation trying to get away from the trap. That would be a death sentence for animals trying to survive in the wilderness; that is, if they even survive the horrors of the trap to begin with. While the animals are being held in the trap for even days of excruciating pain, they could also be scavenged upon by other animals; and they don’t have any chance of escape. They could also die of dehydration or starve; all the while they lay on the ground stained with their own blood. When the hunter finally comes; possibly days after the animal was first trapped- the hunter will either shoot the animal, strikes the dying animal multiple times with some sort of weapon, or the hunters let their hunting dogs finish the job for them, or they might even wait for the suffering animal to die while they pose for their trophy photo. No animal deserves this kind of abuse and unnecessary pain. This is not a fair hunt because the animal has no chance of escape at all. The hunters are torturing wild animals for their own enjoyment- this is not regular human behaviour and it is sick and psychopathic. Traps kill hundreds- maybe even thousands- of innocent animals each year, resulting in a less diverse and less healthy ecosystem. There are more humane options, but these cruel traps are not necessary, nor are the purpose to hunt wolves and other wildlife. If hunting will still be allowed, then at least give the animal a fair chance to get away from these unnecessary and cruel death traps.  I suggest that you ban the use of these terribly cruel traps in all wolf-hunting states. I also demand that hunting dogs are not used in animal hunts, for the hunted animal will face a long, painful death, and the hunting dogs will also risk injury or death. This absurd practice of hunting is unfair. No animal deserves this pain, fear and prolonged suffering. So please, think of the animals, and ban these horrific traps today.


 


 


Livestock Predation- Don’t jump to conclusions!


            Most cattle ranchers nowadays blame the wolves for their cattle losses; therefore they shoot and trap any wolf unlucky enough to be wandering by on sight. While it is important to protect your livestock, shooting any wolf on your property is not the solution. There are more humane ways to deal with this issue. Guard dogs, such as the Anatolian Shepherd, have been used to protect livestock from predators for over 6,000 years. If cattle ranchers use guard dogs to protect their cattle from wolves and other predators, there would be less cattle death and less predator death. The ranchers could also use lines of red flags, which have been proven to deter wolves and other predators. If the ranchers don’t want to use these methods simply because they don’t want to, they don’t believe these methods will work, or they still believe that the wolf and other predators are still a major part of the problem, then they can shoot strictly to SCARE, not to kill. If the ranchers associate the cows with something scary or potentially dangerous, chances are that the wolves won’t come back as often. It’s almost like training a dog. If the wolves come back again, then shoot to scare again, or consider putting up the other wolf defences. It’s really just all about wolf and predator-proofing your property. To avoid wolf and other predator issues all together, then new ranchers shouldn’t set up their ranch in wolf country in the first place. However, if the ranchers have a hard time adapting to dealing with wolves, then they can adapt to this idea: It may actually be beneficial to have wolves around ranches. That’s because the wolves would target the sick and weak cattle, keeping the rest of the herd healthy. Coyotes may also be beneficial, as they may target gophers that break the cattle’s legs. THERE ARE WAYS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY WITH WOLVES AND OTHER PREDATORS. In the main wolf-hunting states, wolves are blamed for most cattle losses, when really, wolves account for less than 1% of all cattle losses. However, most ranchers confuse coyote tracks for wolf tracks, and the wolves are accused and shot. I’m not saying to kill the coyotes; the wolves already help keep the coyote population down. Therefore, if the hunters and ranchers do shoot every wolf they see, there will be an increase in the coyote population and a potential increase in cattle losses. In fact, most cattle in the U.S die of disease and other causes, not from predators. It’s not fair to the wolves that they get shot, when they are just trying to feed their families.


So it is time to stop blaming the wolf for cattle losses! There are many other solutions available to help deal with this issue, so why not give it a try! It would be beneficial to both the wolves and the ranchers.


 


 


Population Control: We don’t need to control the wolves’ population!


            When wolves were removed from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2011, 1200 wolves have been cruelly killed since then. Why? ‘Population Control’ as the hunters and anti-wolf people say. The truth is, wolves don’t need to have their population controlled, as their population is not exactly booming. Wolves used to be widespread throughout North America, but due to hunting, livestock protection, and this so-called, population control, wolves were wiped out from the United States entirely. Now, thanks to the work of dedicated conservationists and scientists and some help from the government, wolves are back in the USA, (but only to be hunted again, unfortunately) but they have only returned to about 5% of their historic range. We must give wolves a better chance at recovery, and we must not ‘manage’ their population. If we do manage their population, the wolves will fall into the hands of psychopathic hunters, and their population will once again be decimated. Besides, the wolves’ population doesn’t exactly NEED to be controlled; they aren’t exactly common. Currently, there are 746 wolves in Idaho, 625 in Montana, 328 in Wyoming, 800 in Wisconsin, 98 wolves in YellowstoneNational Park, and 2,211 in Minnesota. That’s only about 4,808 wolves, which really isn’t that much. This population, being so low in the big scheme of things, is also unsustainable. The population could just die out, therefore reversing all of our conservation and recovery efforts, and throwing the ecosystem in which they live into chaos. This means that the populations of animals that wolves regulate will explode, and the ecosystem will not flourish as it has with wolves around. Wolves also naturally control themselves, because if there is a lower number of prey, fewer pups are born and some of the wolves die. Point is, wolves and nature DO NOT need to be controlled by us, it can take care of itself just fine without human interference.


 


Harming elk herds and competition for ungulates:


            Wolves have been around in the ecosystem for a very long time, but since they were exterminated back in the 1900’s when farmers and ranchers came, the ecosystem has suffered greatly without wolves since then. But now that they are back, hunters are complaining that they are competing for the elk and other ungulates, they are even saying that the wolves are harming the elk herds. Well, yes, the wolves have lowered the elk population, but it has since benefited the health of the environment. There have even been protest signs from anti-wolf groups that said ‘Save an elk herd, kill a wolf!’ This is completely untrue. Killing a wolf will actually be unbeneficial to the elk herds because then the weak, sick, old and young elk will survive, therefore weakening the herd. In truth, the wolves are not harming the elk herds at all, because before the re-introduction of the wolf into the ecosystem, the elk were completely overpopulated and they were slowly destroying the ecosystem. Now the wolves have reduced that number of elk, therefore returning the ecosystem to a healthy state. The elk’s population is now about 3,915 (Yellowstone Population), compared to the 19,045 (Yellowstone Population) elk before re-introducing the wolf. People in wolf-hunting states need to get their facts straight. The fact is, wolves are actually helping the elk herds, not harming them (wolves have had a healthy predator-prey relationship with elk for many, many years!). Wolves will often target the sick, young, old or weak, as well as injured elk (that would end up just slowing down the elk herd and potentially putting their survival on the line), therefore making the elk herds much stronger, and only allowing the healthy elk to survive. Since the wolf is a keystone species, they have since made the ecosystem a healthier place to be. But now, the hunters are angry that the wolves are now a competitor for elk and other native ungulates that they hunt. The wolf is a natural predator to the elk, humans are not. However, since some hunters think that eliminating the wolf again is the solution to this problem. Well, its not. If that happens again then the population of elk would get too high again, too much for just human hunters to control. I understand that some hunters rely on elk for their food, but there are also other food sources available.


There is a solution to living with wolves, and it may take some time to figure out, but I am sure that eventually it will work out. We just need to find a way to co-exist with wolves, instead of resorting to violence. So please-just consider that we can do this peacefully-and we can make both the people and the wolves happy.


 


Wolves’ Importance to the Ecosystem- They are a keystone species!


The Gray Wolf is a vital part of the ecosystem for many reasons. Since they are at the top of the food chain, they benefit the survival and overall health of the environment in which they live. However, recently in the U.S, the hunting of wolves has been allowed again, causing the deaths of over 1200 wolves since 2011. The death toll for wolves is too high, and this will have a devastating effect on the ecosystem in which they live. We must stop this cruel slaughter of America’s wolves. If the wolves’ population gets too low, then they will not be able to maintain the genetic diversity of the species, which could, overtime, lead to a species collapse and potential inbreeding. They wouldn’t be able to control the populations of other animals either, animals such as coyotes, deer, mice, elk, and other creatures from getting too high. If the elk populations get too high, the elk will begin to eat every shrub and plant that they see, therefore downgrading the ecosystem. This would affect all the species that live in the ecosystem, and possibly the surrounding ecosystem as well. If this happens, there would be less biodiversity and the elk herds would not be as healthy. Sure, there are other predators, but wolves are the main hunters of elk, therefore having the greatest influence on the elk herds. Without the wolves, the populations of animals that they hunt will boom, therefore throwing off the natural rhythm of the ecosystem. There would be less trees (because the elk ate most of the baby aspens by the river), so there would be less birds, and then more insects and birds. If there are fewer trees, then there would be fewer homes for smaller organisms, and there would also be less potential food for them, if the elk and other ungulates eat all of the young trees and plants. Trees also help take in some of that extra carbon dioxide, and if the elk eat the baby aspens, then that would definitely not be fixing the global warming problem. The ecosystem needs trees, and it needs wolves to keep the elk population down. Wolves also keep the coyote population at bay. Coyotes cause more cattle losses than wolves-but if the wolf kills the coyotes, then the problem takes care of itself, in a way. However, if the wolves are removed, the coyote population will get bigger, potentially affecting the rancher’s cattle.


See how the removal of one species in an ecosystem can have a devastating effect? I demand that you stop the slaughter of wolves, so that this doesn’t happen and so our ecosystem will remain healthy.


 


 


Trophy/rugs-The Barbaric Sport of Trophy Killing


            The wolf has been roaming free for a long time, yet for years they have been harassed by hunters and their dogs. There have been many stupid reasons as to why wolves were hunted, but perhaps the stupidest, most inhumane reason is hunting them fro sport, so the hunter can get a trophy or a rug from the killed animal. There is absolutely no good reason to hunt wolves and KILL wolves and other wild animals for a DECORATION. This practice is cowardly and barbaric; there is no pride in killing an innocent animal for sport and for ‘fun’. Hunters and poachers will mercilessly kill an animal, not for food, not for survival, but so they can get ‘amusement’ out of another animals’ suffering, and so they can get a pelt that they can put on their floor as a rug, or a head so they can mount it on a wall, because most if not all of them enjoy killing, they enjoy taking away the life of an innocent, majestic animal. This is not regular human behaviour. Hunting is okay if they if the hunters are doing it as humanely as possible, they give the animal a chance to escape, and they hunt the animal for food, not so they can have a pelt. Sport killing is completely unnecessary; there is no reason to kill a wolf or other animal for its pelt. This inhumane sport killing could also have a negative effect on the ecosystem. If sport hunters kill off the majority of the species, then the food chain will be thrown out of whack. Sport hunters may also hunt endangered species (like in the wolf’s case, the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf), or they might just drive a species extinction. For what? A pelt, a head, a trophy, or a decoration. Sport hunters do not have any respect for nature, the environment, or its creatures. We cannot let or species go extinct or become threatened just so some sport hunter can display their trophy or so they can amuse themselves. WE MUST STOP THIS. People who make money off of this cruel slaughter are barbaric; I demand that they are caught and put in jail.


If you must kill wolves, do it to defend your livestock if you have already tried some of the solutions and they didn’t end up working for some reason. But please, do NOT hunt wolves, or any animal, for that matter, for sport.


Here are some true facts about the Gray Wolf: (see links for images).


                       


Credit to Wolf 411 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wolf-411/1488659228025949) for photos.


 


Credit to Pro-Wolf Northwest (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-Wolf-North-West/115166588571309) for the photos.


 


All of Earth’s creatures are here for a reason.


 


As for The Mexican Gray wolf and the Red Wolf, this applies to them too. I urge you to make the hunting of these majestic animals illegal so these rare animals don’t disappear from the ecosystem forever.


 


 


 


 


I urge you to please visit these sites and realize that there is a way to live with wolves peacefully, and hopefully you will decide to outlaw the hunting of this majestic animal.


Wolf Sites and proof that they are not actually bad:


http://predator-friendly-ranching.blogspot.ca/


http://www.motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/04/wolves-protect-climate-change/staring-wolf


 

Update #110 years ago
Hello all,
Just want to say thanks for signing my petition. I closed it on Dec.17, 2013, and I have sent it to the target. The U.S has reviewed not allowing all of their wolves to be killed, and has extended the date for which to submit comments to save wolves. It has been extended to March 27, 2014, and that is when the U.S will make its FINAL decision. I have re-opened my petition so I can send it to them again, this time with a greater impact and more signers.
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