John,
Following a century of trapping and habitat loss from logging and climate change, there are only a few hundred wolverines left in in the continental United States, living in small, fragmented populations. Now, thanks to decades of advocacy by the Center and allies, they’re protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. If you’re one of more than 34,000 Center supporters who helped make that happen, thank you.
But there’s a hitch. The Act prohibits harming or killing protected species in general, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can use what's called a 4(d) rule to create loopholes in specific cases — and it’s doing so for wolverines.
The agency just proposed a rule that would create loopholes making it legal to kill or injure wolverines in traps set for other species and harm wolverines in connection with any logging projects allegedly aimed at reducing wildfire risk. Because almost all logging projects in Montana and Idaho claim to reduce wildfires, this will continue to destroy wolverine’s ability to fully recover.
Tell the Service to revise the 4(d) rule and give these ferocious predators a fighting chance.
Trapping is a real threat to wolverines. And this rule is so broad that it could cover nearly every logging project in wolverine habitat. For wolverines to recover — not just survive — they need the full force of the Endangered Species Act.
Wolverines have waited too long for the lifeline of federal protection. And these loopholes could tear that lifeline apart at the seams.
Add your voice to ensure wolverines are fully protected — not killed — to give these unique predators a fighting chance. |
