TAKE ACTION: SAVE OREGON'S WOLVES!

OREGON NEEDS OUR HELP, AND NEEDS IT FAST.  A NEW BILL PROPOSING KILLING WOLVES IN OREGON WILL TAKE EFFECT UPON PASSAGE. TELL GOVERNOR KITZHABER TO REJECT THAT BILL! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED BY FRIDAY!!!

Under pressure from the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, legislators in the state of Oregon introduced legislation that would allow the state to kill the surviving members of the Imnaha pack of endangered gray wolves – the family of the young male wolf called Journey whose 1,000-mile odyssey to become the first wolf in California since 1924 has attracted international attention.

Why is this legislation dangerous?

• The proposed legislation attempts to bypass Oregon’s Endangered Species Act –  this sets a dangerous precedent because it threatens protections already in place for ALL wildlife considered unpopular by the livestock and logging industries 

• The two remaining wolves in the Imnaha pack are currently protected by a court ruling due to a legal challenge by Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Oregon Wild.  The JUDGE should be allowed to determine whether or not the state of Oregon has the legal authority to shoot endangered species – not politicians pressured by special interests.

• Oregon is home to more than 1 million cattle and only 29 wolves; 55,000 cows were lost to causes from weather, disease and thieves. In the rare instances, livestock are lost to wolves and ranchers are reimbursed at fair market value by Oregon taxpayers. 

• Wolves are protected as an endangered species under the state’s Endangered Species Act. In 2005, the state adopted a wolf-management plan that allowed for wolves to be killed in response to livestock depredations, but only after nonlethal measures to solve problems with depredations had been employed. Conservation groups have repeatedly requested documents from the Department of Fish and Wildlife demonstrating that nonlethal measures sufficient to solve depredation, but so far nothing has been received.

• Most Oregonians and wildlife watchers around the nation want wolves recovered; wildlife tourism is the fastest growing industry in the region.

CONTACT:

FOR ALL CITIZENS – Governor Kitzhaber – http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/contact.shtml

OR HOUSE LEADERSHIP

rep.peterbuckley@state.or , rep.brucehanna@state.or.us, rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us , rep.andyolson@state.or.us

OR SENATE LEADERSHIP

sen.petercourtney@state.or.us

sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us

OREGON citizens – http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1780/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1237417

Out of state talking points :  Consider telling the Governor that you visit Oregon because of its beauty and abundant wildlife.  It is a special place with wolves back in the ecosystem. Talk to him about the amazing story of Journey(OR-7) and how it has captured the attention of not only Oregon, but the world. Without wolves you would think twice about returning to Oregon in the future..  You have always commended the Governor for taking a  strong stand protecting Oregon’s wildlife, and please don’t allow the passage of this bill that could literally destroy wildlife in Oregon as we know it.  The fate of wolves, and all wildlife, rests in his hands, and encourage him to do the right thing, andVETO this bill!

THANKS TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT OREGON WILD FOR ALL THEY DO.  TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OREGON WILD GO TO   http://www.oregonwild.org/

National Wolfwatcher Coalition                    

Understand, Love, Protect