Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The Wolves Need You!!!
Dear Friends,
The League has long advocated for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to release new wolves into the wild to boost the wild population’s numbers and improve genetic diversity. After four years with no new releases of Mexican wolves into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA), a release of a few new wolves is finally being proposed, through two documents: a Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Replacement Release Outline for Arizona 2013 (Release Proposal), and a Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Initial Wolf Release Arizona Pack Management Plan 2012-2013 (Pack Management Plan).
New releases are a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, there are some problems with the proposal and the management plans for the releases (see talking points in sample letter below).
Please send comments to Interagency Field Team Leader Chris Bagnoli at Arizona Game and Fish and to USFWS Southwest Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle at Benjamin_Tuggle@fws.gov telling them that while we are pleased about new releases are planned we still have concerns.
Here is a sample email:
Dear Mr. Bagnoli and Dr. Tuggle,
I am pleased that the AZGF has proposed releases of more Mexican wolves into the wild. However while proposing to release a few new wolves into the wild after four years of no releases is a step in the right direction, the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Replacement Release Outline for Arizona 2013 is inadequate.
1. The resumption of killing and removing endangered Mexican wolves over livestock conflicts outlined in the Pack Management Plan is unacceptable. Policies like those described in the plan are one of the reasons the Mexican wolf population numbers and genetic health are still of such great concern.
2. If the Mexican gray wolf is going to succeed, several critical steps must be implemented immediately:
For those who want more in-depth information:
First, the Pack Management Plan that accompanies the Release Proposal states that any wolf implicated in “nuisance” behavior, including livestock conflicts, three or more times in one year will be killed or placed in permanent captivity. This is return to Standard Operating Procedure 13, which was rescinded in 2009. Prior to 2009, the USFWS killed or removed 92 wolves from the wild population because of nuisance behavior or conflicts with livestock.
Second, the release proposal is woefully inadequate to foster the needed population growth or increased genetic health.
The proposal only replaces the wolves killed illegally in Arizona last year and ignores wolves killed in New Mexico or lost to other causes. Even if it replaced all the wolves that died in the past year, it would be inadequate, given that the last official count found only 58 wolves in the wild. The initial recovery plan predicted that we would have over 100 wild wolves by this year. The wild population will not be restored to viable numbers by only releasing wolves to replace those that are illegally killed. Many more releases are needed.
While we are pleased that the release proposal identifies and addresses the critical need for “genetic rescue” of the wild population of Mexican wolves, the release of a few wolves falls far too short of accomplishing meaningful genetic rescue. From 2005-2008 only five new wolves were released and no new wolves have been released since November 2008. Now both populations are at risk genetically because of the low growth rate of the wild population, which is largely due to aggressive management removals of wolves and the failure to release sufficient numbers of wolves from the captive population.
The genetic situation is part of USFWS justification for the proposal to capture the aging Rim Pack alpha female, return her to captivity, and surgically remove her remaining viable eggs for future artificial reproduction. The capture of one pure McBride lineage wolf and the release of one or two cross-lineage wolves, which constitutes the full extent of this current release proposal, fall far short of a comprehensive science-based genetic “rescue” or “re-rescue” plan and will do little to grow the wild population at the necessary rate.
Because the agency is using presence of livestock as a justification not to release wolves into a wider range of the available area in Arizona, and because the USFWS has failed to change the rule to allow direct releases into New Mexico, almost every release alternative involves releasing wolves into or near the territory of an existing wild pack. This is less than ideal and can be avoided by releasing the EA and using proactive measures with livestock.
The League has long advocated for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to release new wolves into the wild to boost the wild population’s numbers and improve genetic diversity. After four years with no new releases of Mexican wolves into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA), a release of a few new wolves is finally being proposed, through two documents: a Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Replacement Release Outline for Arizona 2013 (Release Proposal), and a Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Initial Wolf Release Arizona Pack Management Plan 2012-2013 (Pack Management Plan).
New releases are a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, there are some problems with the proposal and the management plans for the releases (see talking points in sample letter below).
Please send comments to Interagency Field Team Leader Chris Bagnoli at Arizona Game and Fish and to USFWS Southwest Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle at Benjamin_Tuggle@fws.gov telling them that while we are pleased about new releases are planned we still have concerns.
Here is a sample email:
Dear Mr. Bagnoli and Dr. Tuggle,
I am pleased that the AZGF has proposed releases of more Mexican wolves into the wild. However while proposing to release a few new wolves into the wild after four years of no releases is a step in the right direction, the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project Replacement Release Outline for Arizona 2013 is inadequate.
1. The resumption of killing and removing endangered Mexican wolves over livestock conflicts outlined in the Pack Management Plan is unacceptable. Policies like those described in the plan are one of the reasons the Mexican wolf population numbers and genetic health are still of such great concern.
2. If the Mexican gray wolf is going to succeed, several critical steps must be implemented immediately:
- Develop, adopt, and implement an aggressive genetic rescue/re-rescue plan;
- Revise the Endangered Species Act Section 10(j) rule to authorize direct releases of captive-raised Mexican wolves to any geographic location within the designated BRWRA (currently new wolves can only be released into Arizona, which excludes excellent habitat in New Mexico);
- Eliminate “presence of livestock” as a rationale for excluding areas from consideration for wolf releases (There are plenty of places to release wolves in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area, but many appear to be excluded simply because of active livestock grazing operations in the project area; proactive measures have been successfully used to avoid depredations and the recovery of Mexican gray wolves is the appropriate priority); and
- Resume and expedite recovery planning for the Mexican gray wolf (The recovery planning process for the Mexican wolf is currently stalled and significantly behind schedule. At this point, the release of a draft Recovery Plan is not expected until sometime in 2014. Mexican wolves need and deserve better performance by the USFWS).
For those who want more in-depth information:
First, the Pack Management Plan that accompanies the Release Proposal states that any wolf implicated in “nuisance” behavior, including livestock conflicts, three or more times in one year will be killed or placed in permanent captivity. This is return to Standard Operating Procedure 13, which was rescinded in 2009. Prior to 2009, the USFWS killed or removed 92 wolves from the wild population because of nuisance behavior or conflicts with livestock.
Second, the release proposal is woefully inadequate to foster the needed population growth or increased genetic health.
The proposal only replaces the wolves killed illegally in Arizona last year and ignores wolves killed in New Mexico or lost to other causes. Even if it replaced all the wolves that died in the past year, it would be inadequate, given that the last official count found only 58 wolves in the wild. The initial recovery plan predicted that we would have over 100 wild wolves by this year. The wild population will not be restored to viable numbers by only releasing wolves to replace those that are illegally killed. Many more releases are needed.
While we are pleased that the release proposal identifies and addresses the critical need for “genetic rescue” of the wild population of Mexican wolves, the release of a few wolves falls far too short of accomplishing meaningful genetic rescue. From 2005-2008 only five new wolves were released and no new wolves have been released since November 2008. Now both populations are at risk genetically because of the low growth rate of the wild population, which is largely due to aggressive management removals of wolves and the failure to release sufficient numbers of wolves from the captive population.
The genetic situation is part of USFWS justification for the proposal to capture the aging Rim Pack alpha female, return her to captivity, and surgically remove her remaining viable eggs for future artificial reproduction. The capture of one pure McBride lineage wolf and the release of one or two cross-lineage wolves, which constitutes the full extent of this current release proposal, fall far short of a comprehensive science-based genetic “rescue” or “re-rescue” plan and will do little to grow the wild population at the necessary rate.
Because the agency is using presence of livestock as a justification not to release wolves into a wider range of the available area in Arizona, and because the USFWS has failed to change the rule to allow direct releases into New Mexico, almost every release alternative involves releasing wolves into or near the territory of an existing wild pack. This is less than ideal and can be avoided by releasing the EA and using proactive measures with livestock.
Relist our wolves..STOP the slaughter!
PLEASE SIGN THIS VERY IMPORTANT PETITION TO HAVE OUR WOLVES RELISTED UNDER FEDERAL PROTECTION -
http://signon.org/sign/
http://signon.org/sign/
Wolves & Livestock in perspective...
The Wolf Army..
Wolves are NO serious threat to the livestock industry...these stats
are not only applicable to the USA, but corresponds with stats from
other countries where the wolf is still present...
A study
published in the journal of Ecological Economics found that wolf
depredations account for less than 0.01% of the annual gross income of
ranchers in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
A May 2011 USDA cattle death report added more data proving that
livestock death is only fractionally attributed to wolf kills. For
example, of the nearly 4,000,000 cattle and calf deaths in the US in
2010, predators caused only 5% and of that, wolves caused a meager 0.2%.
Moreover, of the $2.4 billion value these deaths cost only 0.1% of that
value came as a result of a wolf kill.
Volatile meat prices,
increased land and fuel prices, disease, weather, domestic dogs, and
even human thieves are much bigger threats.
Though wolves may
have some localized impacts on individual livestock operators, those can
be significantly reduced with responsible husbandry. There are lots of
things responsible livestock managers can do to protect their livestock
that don’t involve bullets. In most cases ranchers are fully compensated
by taxpayers for any losses.
Behind many of the exaggerated
and horrific stories of livestock losses trotted out by the anti-wolf
folks is an untold story of poor animal husbandry.
*Courtesy for some extracts :
www.oregonwild.org
A May 2011 USDA cattle death report added more data proving that livestock death is only fractionally attributed to wolf kills. For example, of the nearly 4,000,000 cattle and calf deaths in the US in 2010, predators caused only 5% and of that, wolves caused a meager 0.2%. Moreover, of the $2.4 billion value these deaths cost only 0.1% of that value came as a result of a wolf kill.
Volatile meat prices, increased land and fuel prices, disease, weather, domestic dogs, and even human thieves are much bigger threats.
Though wolves may have some localized impacts on individual livestock operators, those can be significantly reduced with responsible husbandry. There are lots of things responsible livestock managers can do to protect their livestock that don’t involve bullets. In most cases ranchers are fully compensated by taxpayers for any losses.
Behind many of the exaggerated and horrific stories of livestock losses trotted out by the anti-wolf folks is an untold story of poor animal husbandry.
*Courtesy for some extracts :
www.oregonwild.org
End night Coyote hunting
The Wolf Army...
NC conservation groups ask court for quick end to nighttime coyote hunting to protect red wolf
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wildlife and environmental groups are asking a Wake County court to block a new rule allowing coyotes to be hunted at night with spotlights after the shooting death of a similar-looking but endangered red wolf.
Read more: http://
NC conservation groups ask court for quick end to nighttime coyote hunting to protect red wolf
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wildlife and environmental groups are asking a Wake County court to block a new rule allowing coyotes to be hunted at night with spotlights after the shooting death of a similar-looking but endangered red wolf.
Read more: http://
Minnesota wolf hunt
Minnesota wolf hunt is about to begin on November 3, but there is still lots of disagreements about the hunt...
Throughout Minnesota's history, the wolf has been both mystical and
misunderstood. Some find the nighttime howl of the animal soothing and
comforting; the same sound can send shivers down the spine of a cattle
farmer....
Federally protected for decades, the hunters are about to become the hunted.
Good news is that The Native American tribes of Northern Minnesota have
banded together, forbidding the hunting of wolves on their lands. The
White Earth tribe is taking this hunt personally.
Several members of the wolf clan on the reservation have also strongly opposed the new hunt.
If you open the link here, you can see a video clip of this article at the top of the page (of course after an ad)
http://www.kare11.com/news/
The Wolf Army
Good news is that The Native American tribes of Northern Minnesota have banded together, forbidding the hunting of wolves on their lands. The White Earth tribe is taking this hunt personally.
Several members of the wolf clan on the reservation have also strongly opposed the new hunt.
If you open the link here, you can see a video clip of this article at the top of the page (of course after an ad)
http://www.kare11.com/news/
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Illegal poaching? Report it!!
Know of anyone poaching/illegally killing/or not reporting killing wolves and other animals in the USA ?
Here is a link where you can report it...scroll down and get a list for
all the states that are part of the anti-poaching program...
http://www.all-creatures.org/
***This action was originated by Good Wolf here on FB
http://www.causes.com/causes/
***This action was originated by Good Wolf here on FB
http://www.causes.com/causes/
Utah..
( The Wolf Army )
Utah :
Utah :
Not even any confirmed wolves in Utah yet almost every member of Utah’s
congressional delegation has co-sponsored legislation to remove wolves
from the endangered species act.
Representative Jason Chaffetz
wants Utah and other states to manage their wolf populations without
interference from the federal government. “You’ve got farmers in
Northern Utah that are concerned about the encroachment...."
According to the Utah Department of Agriculture--this year five calves
and eight sheep have been confirmed killed by wolves—a cost $5,000.
These wolves were thought to have wandered into the state. The
Departments’ position is to keep all wolves out of Utah.
Read more here :http://
PS..The Wolf Army does not agree with the opinion that wolves have
sufficiently recovered in the Northern Rockies and that they face no
danger of being endangered again.
According to the Utah Department of Agriculture--this year five calves and eight sheep have been confirmed killed by wolves—a cost $5,000. These wolves were thought to have wandered into the state. The Departments’ position is to keep all wolves out of Utah.
Read more here :http://
PS..The Wolf Army does not agree with the opinion that wolves have sufficiently recovered in the Northern Rockies and that they face no danger of being endangered again.
New Mexico: Why the secrecy??
(The Wolf Army)
New Mexico: Why the secrecy ?
New Mexico: Why the secrecy ?
We all followed the story of the Mexican alpha female wolf that was
captured and removed from her pack for supposedly killing 6 cattle in SW
corner of New Mexico.
On October 23 WildEarth Guardians
received 870 pages of documents about the planned removal of the wolf .
Folks can imagine with 870 pages, a lot was learned about the decision.
Amazingly 80 per cent of the documents were blacked out — redacted.
Environmentalists on Tuesday accused federal wildlife managers of
keeping secret some of the details behind decisions that led to her
capture....
Read more here : http://
Amazingly 80 per cent of the documents were blacked out — redacted.
Environmentalists on Tuesday accused federal wildlife managers of keeping secret some of the details behind decisions that led to her capture....
Read more here : http://
133 Wolves destroyed in combined hunts so far
133 Wolves destroyed so far by combined hunts.
The death toll is rising.
Innocent wolves are dying torturous deaths.
Mothers, Fathers, Pups and families destroyed!
Get Active! Organize!
This will continue until we join together to stop it!!
HOWL ACROSS AMERICA!!!
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!
133 Wolves in 54 days
Idaho - 65
Montanna - 18
Wyoming - 30
Wisconsin - 20
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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