CALL TO ACTION: Speak Out Against the Togo Wolf Shooting

On August 23rd, after a court order had been obtained preventing the killing of a member of the Togo wolf pack, a rancher, using GPS data from the collared male in the pack, went to the rendezvous point  where wolves keep their pups. The rancher saw the male wolf and his pups. When the male wolf barked at the rancher, the rancher shot the wolf - alleging "self defense." The wolf know has a broken leg and will have difficulty living, much less providing for his pups as one of only two adults in the pack.

We need to demand an a full investigation. Please write to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Director Kelly Susewind at this email address director@dfw.wa.gov and demand the following:

1) A full investigation by law enforcement into the rancher's actions

2) A full investigation by law enforcement into WDFW's communications with the rancher. Did they fail to tell the rancher to stay away from the rendezvous site? Did they instruct him as to typical wolf behavior if approached at a rendezvous site or den? The public needs to know what WDFW did and did not tell the rancher.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Save the Endangered Species Act DUE SEPT 24

The Department of the Interior has proposed new regulations which would dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act. Please leave a public comment opposing these regulations BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 24. Leave your public comment HERE.


SAMPLE COMMENT FROM HSUS:

The proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act regulations by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service would weaken the ESA regulations by making it harder to secure and maintain federal protections for imperiled species. The FWS and NMFS should keep the existing ESA protections to save threatened and endangered animals from extinction.

SAMPLE COMMENT FROM XERCES SOCIETY:

 I strongly oppose the proposed rule changes to the Endangered Species Act proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Despite the claim from politicians that only a minority of species have recovered after endangered species listing, the fact is the Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction, and has prevented 99 percent of listed species from going extinct. Weakening the Act with the proposed changes will have dramatic implications for species conservation at a time when the threats to all species are increasing, and an increasing number of species are imperiled.

I especially oppose that listing decisions would be coupled with a study on the economic impacts (not benefits) to listing the species. An economic impact analysis could easily influence listing decisions, not to mention be a waste of taxpayer funds.

The Endangered Species Act is a hallmark piece of legislation that has had tremendous benefits for this nation’s iconic wildlife. The proposed changes to the ESA would weaken the law, change the clearly stated and intended purpose of the law, and have negative lasting impacts on our environment for future generations. For these reasons, I strongly oppose the suggested changes.

SAMPLE COMMENT FROM HOWLING FOR WOLVES: 

1. Give economic impact over consideration in decisions about protecting wildlife. Species listing decisions are currently made based solely on scientific considerations–as it should be. The new rules will give veto power to specialist interests over protecting endangered animals.
2. Make it much more difficult to protect plants, fish, and wildlife impacted by the effects of climate change. Species such as wolverines or lynx that are now losing their fight against a warming world will continue to be denied protections;
3. Put enormous roadblocks in the way of protecting habitat needed by endangered and threatened species;
4. Weaken the longstanding requirement that federal agencies work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to assure that projects do not hurt or kill endangered species;
5. Drastically weaken protections afforded to species designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Florida manatees, gray wolves in Minnesota, marbled murrelets, and hundreds of others could face new threats.
6. States can open hunting and trapping seasons to kill these animals if Zinke's plan is enacted.

PETITIONS: Please sign and share the following public comments from conservation groups. (updated Sept 10)

Center for Biological Diversity
Audubon Society
National Anti-Vivisection Society
Sierra Club
Animal Welfare Institute
Endangered Species Coalition
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Oceana
Defenders of Wildlife
League of Conservation Voters
EarthJustice
National Wildlife Federation
Ocean Conservancy 
IFAW
Wilderness Watch
Environment California
Audubon Society 
WildEarth Guardians
Oregon Wild
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Food and Water Action
NRDC