Action needed to Save Wolves!

Representative Denny Rehberg introduced two bills in Congress yesterday to remove wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act.

This would be the first time an animal that is protected under the ESA would be removed in this manner if either of these two bills are passed.

The first Bill would permanently remove wolves from protection, and would result in certain decimation of the species in the northern Rockies and most of North America.

The second bill is designed to remove federal protection of wolves in Montana and Idaho only, and this bill would certainly result in the permanent removal of wolves from these two states.

This is a sad state of affairs and is a clear case of Politics over Science.  The ranchers are concerned over depredation issues and it is understood.  The true facts are that wolves are responsible for only 2% of all livestock losses, while other predators such as wild dogs, bears, and lions, not to mention natural causes such as disease .  Livestock does in fact succumb from natural causes and then the carcasses are scavenged by various predators and scavengers.  Such is the wild.  But when wolf tracks are among those found at such a depredation, they are immediately blamed for the purpose of ranchers attempting to receive compensation for the loss. Many livestock graze on vast public lands, areas that the wolves naturally live and travel. Some ranchers are pro active and take measures to protect their livestock , but there are just as many if not the majority that simply allow their herds to wander great distances with no protection…on public lands.

Hunters(who prefer to be called “Sportsmen Associations”), would like to kill all wolves,  Not all hunters but the majority for sure.  Since the reintroduction of wolves in 1995 to the northern Rockies, wolves main diet consists of deer and elk and other “trophy” animals that hunters treasure.  Some hunters hunt for food, while most hunt to hang the head on the wall.  This is not a misconception but clearly the truth, and ask any hunter why they try to kill the elk with the biggest rack.  Ask then where the head ends up.  Hunters would like you to believe that wolves have killed elk and there are very few left.   Now this is a misconception.

What has happened to the elk is that they no longer stand around near major roadways making it easier for hunters to kill.  The wolves have put the elk to the test and keep them on the move.  They are harder to find, and harder to count the numbers now.  Certainly wolves take elk, but they target the old, the weak, the sick and the young,  All predators. especially bears, target the young in the Spring when they are able to catch them , and are frantically searching for food to survive. In fact, with the return of wolves to the ecosystem, a trickle down effect has occurred where trees are growing again, rivers are running deeper, several species, including the beaver and songbirds are back.  From bears down to bugs, the ecosystem is thriving once again now that the apex predator, the wolf, has returned.  This can best be described as a trophic cascade.

Not only has the animal population thrived but so has the human population in so many areas.  Tourism in Yellowstone has broken all time attendance records each and every new year, and this is attributed to the presence of wolves.  In Yellowstone and the surrounding area, over 90 million dollars poured into the economy are because of wolves.  I know this first hand as I am one of those people that would not be visiting if not for wolves. The sale of wolf related merchandise is booming in retail and internet stores and are at an all time high.

The wolf…no other animal has ever generated so much emotion.  There are those that love them, those that hate them, and really few in between.  We need to embrace this marvel of nature and protect wolves at every turn.

I could talk “WOLF” endlessly, but the main objective of this article is to protect them from near extinction once again.  The wolf may eventually find its solace through some type of compromise, but when there are bills looking to remove them permanently from the federal protection of the Endangered Species Act there is NO COMPROMISE on this issue.

Contact your Representative in Congress and also your Senator and urge them to vote against these bills before them.

H.R.509 – To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that Act shall not apply to the gray wolf (canis lupus).   This is the first Bill that would permanently remove all wolves from federal protection under the ESA!

H.R.510 – To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit treatment of gray wolves in Idaho and Montana as endangered species, and for other purposes.      This bill would remove wolves from federally protection permanently in Montana and Idaho.

https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?alertId=2076&pg=makeACall&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=suir1o5bo1.app341a

Please contact your representatives in Congress and the Senate by telephone as well.  For the WOLVES!

Additional contact information supplied by Wolf Warriors coalition led efforts to Save Wolves:

Committee on Natural Resources

United States House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
…Phone: (202) 225-2761
Fax: (202) 225-5929
Website: http://naturalresources.house.gov/

Please direct all press inquiries to the Communications Office at: (202) 226-9019

Subcommittee: Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs

140 Cannon House Office Building
(202) 226-0200 | Fax: (202) 225-1542

Harry Burroughs, Staff Director
Bonnie Bruce, Legislative Staff
Dave Whaley, Legislative Staff

US Congressman John C. Fleming, MD (R-LA) Chairperson
Washington
Phone – 202-225-2777
FAX – 202-225-8039
Shreveport, LA
Phone: (318) 798-2254
Fax: (318) 798-2063
eMail – https://fleming.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm

Don Young – (R – Alaska)
Washington DC
Phone – (202) 225-5765
FAX – (202) 225-0425
Anchorage, AK
T (907) 271-5978
F (907) 271-5950
email – https://donyoung.house.gov/Contact/ (scroll down)

Wittman, Rob – (R – VA)
Washington DC
Phone – (202) 225-4261
Fax – (202) 225-4382
Yorktown, VA
Phone: (757) 874-6687
Fax: (757) 874-7164
Email – https://forms.house.gov/wittman/IMA/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Duncan, Jeff (R- SC)
Washington DC
Phone: (202) 225-5301
Fax: (202) 225-3216
Aiken, SC
Phone: (803) 649-5571
Fax: (803) 648-9038
eMail – https://jeffduncan.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Southerland, Steve (R-FL)
Washington
Phone: (202) 225-5235
Fax: (202) 225-5615
Panama City
840 W. 11th Street, Suite 2250
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: (850) 785-0812
Fax: (850) 763-3764
eMail – https://southerland.house.gov/contact-me

Bill Flores (R-Texas)
Washington
Phone: (202) 225-6105
Fax: (202) 225-0350
Waco
Phone: (254) 732-0748
Fax: (254) 732-1755
email: https://flores.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Harris, MD, Andy (R- Maryland)
Washington DC
Phone: (202) 225-5311
Fax: (202) 225-0254
Email: https://harris.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Jeffrey Landry (R- LA)
Washington
Phone: (202) 225-4031
Fax: (202) 226-3944
Houma
Phone: (985) 879-2300
Fax: (985) 879-2306
Email: https://landry.house.gov/contact-me

Jon Runyan (NJ)
Washington DC
Phone: (202) 225-4765
Fax: (202) 225-0778
Mount Laurel
Phone: (856) 780-6436
Fax: (856) 780-6440
Email: https://runyan.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

DEMOCRATS

Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands)
Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Areas
Washington, D.C.
Phone: 202-225-1790
Fax: 202-225-5517
St. Croix
Phone: 340-778-5900
Fax: 340-778-5111

REFER TO FACEBOOK PAGE TO CONTACT: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congresswoman-Donna-M-Christensen/138013351189?v=info

Bordallo, Madeleine Z. (D – Guam) (and previous Chair)
Washington, D.C. office

Phone (202) 225 1188
Fax(202) 226 0341 fax
eMail – http://www.house.gov/bordallo/contact.shtml

Frank Pallone, Jr. (D- New Jersey)
Washington
Phone: (202) 225-4671
Fax: (202) 225-9665
Central New Jersey
Phone: (732) 249-8892
Monmouth
Phone: (732) 571-1140
(888) 423-1140
Email: http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml

Dale Kildee (D-Michigan)
Washington, D.C.
Phone: (202) 225-3611
Fax: (202) 225-6393
Toll Free to Michigan Offices: 1-800-662-2685
email: https://kildeeforms.house.gov/contact/contact-form.shtml

Eni Faleomavaega (D -American Samoa)
Washington DC
Phone: (202) 225-8577
Fax: 202-225-8757
American Samoa
phone: (684) 633-1372
Fax: (684) 633-2680
email: faleomavaega@mail.house.gov.

Gregorio C. Sablan (D – Northern Mariana Islands At large)
Washington, D.C.
Phone: (202) 225-2646
Toll Free Phone: (877) 446-3465
Fax: (202) 226-4249
Email: Kilili@mail.house.gov

Betty Sutton (D-Ohio)
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 225-3401
Fax: (202) 225-2266
Akron, OH
Phone: (330) 865-8450
Fax: (330) 865-8470
Email: http://sutton.house.gov/about/emailform.cfm

Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico)
Washington, D.C.
Tel: (202) 225-2615
Fax: (202) 225-2154

Email : http://pierluisi.house.gov/english/contact-us