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ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT TURNS 50
On December 28, 1973, President Nixon signed into law the Endangered Species Act which had unanimous support in the Senate and only four dissenting votes in the House. Just one week later, the gray wolf was listed under the ESA.
While the wolf remains protected in most of the US, the threats continue. USFWS is expected to rule on wolf delisting in February, while dragging their feet on the decision to relist wolves in the Northern Rockies.
Bills have been introduced to remove the wolf through federal legislation which would return management to the states.
We have seen what happens to wolves under state management: hunting, trapping seasons have turned back the clock 100 years; state legislators ignore basic wolf biology; Governors appoint commissioners unfriendly to the wolf with no experience with biodiversity.
Become an informed voter. List the issues most important to you. We all want clean air to breath; untainted water to drink; know that our food is safe to eat; saving wild places and wildlife. We need science-based decisions without the influence of special interests.
Learn how your Senators and Congressmen/women and your state legislators vote on those issues. Do they share your values? Too often we hear, "all politicians are the same". They are not. 50 years ago Congress was united. Lets work to make that happen again.
As a non-profit, Wolfwatcher cannot lobby for or against any candidate. But, we can tell you that wildlife is a political football that gets tossed around and often used as a negotiating chip. It is our duty to research issues, read scientific publications which present unbiased facts. Many peer-reviewed documents, covering various topics can be found at our website resources tab. Share them; write letters to the editor; counter misinformation. If not you, then who will speak for the wolf?
Celebrate Wolf Awareness Week (October 15-21) by attending an event, contacting your representatives or even sharing factual information about wolves with someone.
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