Stop Wolf Hunting in Idaho and Montana!
- by: C. Wolverton
- recipient: U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
In April 2011, Congress approved a budget rider removing wolves from the endangered species list in five states. Starting on September 3, 2011, hunters in Idaho and Montana received the green light to kill and trap native wolves. 11 wolves have been killed in the week since hunting season began.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, only 566 wolves live in Montana, and 705 in Idaho. Despite these low numbers, Montana has set a kill quota of 220 wolves for the 2011 season, while Idaho has no set limit.
Wolves are a beautiful species that enrich the natural landscape. They control deer and elk populations, which preserves the balance of native plant life. They also control predators such as coyotes, which preserves native species such as snowshoe hares and the Canada lynx.
Please sign the petition to prevent further wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana.
We the undersigned are concerned about native wolf populations currently being hunted in Idaho and Montana. Fewer than 1,000 wolves reside in each state, and continued hunting will damage the species and the ecosystem as a whole.
Wolves are a beautiful species that enrich the natural landscape. They preserve the balance of native plant life by controlling deer and elk populations. They also control other predators such as coyotes, which preserves native species such as snowshoe hares and the Canada lynx.
Wolf hunting, especially at the current allowed quotas, may have devastating, irreversible effects on the ecosystem. Please consider restoring protections for wolves.
Thank you for reading and considering our petition.
