Save the Wolves of the Tongass National Forest
For thousands of years, black wolves have roamed the snow-covered islands of southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago. But even in this remote stretch of more than 1,000 islands and glaciated peaks, Alexander Archipelago wolves have been no match for industrial logging, road building and overharvest.
Right now the Forest Service is about to close a deal on the Big Thorne timber sale, with logging planned for more than 6,000 acres of prime old-growth habitat for wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears, Queen Charlotte goshawks, flying squirrels, marten and other imperiled species.
Alexander Archipelago wolves can't coexist indefinitely with clearcut logging: The wolf population is directly connected to the health of black-tailed deer, which in turn is directly tied to the health of the old-growth forests. And as road density increases, so do wolf kills -- both legal and illegal. In the Tongass National Forest logging roads provide access for wolf hunters and trappers, and road density on much of Prince of Wales Island is already beyond sustainable levels.
Take action — tell the Forest Service to drop Big Thorne now.
To Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor
I am writing with the simple and urgent plea to stop logging old growth in the Tongass National Forest. Alexander Archipelago wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer and other native species that are part of the incredible natural history of Prince of Wales Island cannot withstand the Big Thorne timber sale.
The Forest Service's Environmental Assessment and Supplemental Information Report for this project do not adequately address the true harm that will come from logging 6,000 acres of some of the last, best old-growth habitat on Prince of Wales Island. And the loss of deer habitat combined with miles of new roads facilitating hunter access will harm Alexander Archipelago wolves, which are already in a precarious position after decades of old-growth logging.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering protecting the wolves under the Endangered Species Act because of the habitat destruction already wrought by projects like Big Thorne. If this sale goes through, the wolves will almost certainly be brought to the knife-edge of extinction.
Please -- as a steward of our magnificent public lands, stop this sale. Alexander Archipelago wolves are more important than timber company profits. And any true accounting of the Big Thorne sale under the National Environmental Policy Act will prove it to be a senseless project.
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Sincerely,
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