On Friday, Defenders %u2013 together with nine other leading conservation groups %u2013 reached a legal settlement with the Department of the Interior regarding wolf recovery and management in the Northern Rockies.
emanuel, this is a complex and fast-changing issue. I want to
make sure that you have the facts you need to understand Defenders of Wildlife%u2019s decision%u2026 and an opportunity to
share your opinion. Make no mistake: absent this agreement, congressional legislation eroding the Endangered Species Act and eliminating all protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies %u2013 and perhaps elsewhere in the Lower 48 United States %u2013 was virtually assured. Such legislation would mean widespread and unchecked killing of wolves in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana and possibly Arizona and New Mexico (where
just 50 wolves remain in the wild). It also threatens to open the door to further efforts by Congress to start meddling in other decisions regarding endangered wildlife, putting politics before science when it comes to our nation%u2019s commitment to conserving our wildlife heritage.
Instead, we have now set the foundation for a collaborative, science-based path forward to ensure a lasting future for America%u2019s wolves. The agreement, if approved by a federal court, will allow for sustainable management of wolves in Idaho and Montana and maintains full Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in Oregon, Washington, Utah and other parts of the West.
Please check out our new web page for further information on the wolf settlement and
provide your feedback on our wolf work.
Defenders of Wildlife has been fighting for wolves for decades, and we%u2019re not about to stop now. In the wake of the legal settlement, we are stepping up our work to%u2026
- Fight legislation in Congress that would eliminate all protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies and Southwest;
- Monitor state management of wolves in Idaho and Montana and fight anti-wolf legislation in state legislatures;
- Watchdog Wildlife Services, the federal government%u2019s chief wolf-killing agency;
- Provide rewards for information leading to the conviction of wolf poachers;
- Collaborate with ranchers on the ground to adopt proven, wildlife-friendly livestock management practices to prevent needless wolf killings; and
- Educate the public about the vital role wolves play in healthy ecosystems.
This is a tough fight. But with your help, I know we can ensure a lasting future for these amazing animals.
