October 2021

Wolf Awareness Week

Fighting for Wolves

What better way to celebrate Wolf Awareness Week than to be the voice for wolves and fight for them? Wolves are under attack in every state where they exist. And the "unwelcome" mat is out in states such as South Dakota where the wolf is designated as a predator/varmint allowing hunters, trappers, landowners to kill a wolf anywhere in the state.

Several lawsuits and petitions have been filed in the hope of restoring protections for wolves. This issue is devoted to the various issues at the federal and state level:

Federal lawsuit challenging delisting
Emergency petition to restore protections for Northern Rocky wolves
State lawsuit against Wisconsin / Injunction to stop the November hunt
Federal lawsuit by tribes against Wisconsin / Injunction to stop the hunt

We will only lose if we give up! The success of these measures to ensure the protection of wolves in the United States relies on evidence, science, and public support. We all must establish a clear precedent.

We must act now. We must continue to fight for wolves.

THE MAKING OF LAWSUITS

In 2011, wolves in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah lost their federal protections when Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) attached a rider, sneaking it into a “must-pass” federal budget bill.

On January 4, 2021, the remaining wolves in the Lower 48 lost the federal protection afforded them under the Endangered Species Act turning management over to individual states. This decision was made despite 1.8 million comments including 100 scientists who wrote USFWS opposing delisting. Only the Mexican and Red wolves have some level of federal protection. Ten days later, six environmental groups filed a lawsuit. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard 11/12/21.

NORTHERN ROCKIES WOLVES

This past May, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Humane Society of the United States filed an Emergency Petition to relist wolves in the Northern Rockies. This petition was filed after Idaho passed Senate Bill 1211 allowing allow trophy hunters, trappers and private contractors hired at taxpayer expense to kill up to 90% of the state’s wolves. Even Idaho Fish and Game opposed the law which also liberalized trapping rules and increased funding to hire professional exterminators, a process that can include shooting them from helicopters.

A second Petition to list the Western Northern American population of gray wolves as a distinct population segment was filed in July on behalf of 70 organizations, including the National Wolfwatcher Coalition

USFWS NEEDS TO HEAR YOU HOWL

United States Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the petitions present substantial, credible information indicating that a listing action may be warranted and will initiate a comprehensive status review of the gray wolf in the western U.S.

The USFS found that potential increases in human caused mortality may pose a threat to wolves and that new regulatory mechanisms in Idaho and Montana may be inadequate to address the threat. Therefore, USFS states the wolves in the western US may warrant relisting.

A 90 day comment period was opened on September 17th. Please do not delay in submitting comments, more than 28,000 have already been submitted. Not sure what to say? Check out the petitions (hyperlinked above) for science based arguments why protections should be restored.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

UPDATE WISCONSIN WOLVES

Wisconsin failed in the handling of the February wolf hunt. Wisconsin is the only state that mandates a wolf hunt, including the use of dogs to pursue wolves, when wolves are not on the Endangered Species list.

Following delisting, Wisconsin began plans for a November wolf hunt, however, Hunter Nation was successful in their lawsuit when a judge ordered that a hunt must go forward in February during peak wolf breeding season. It was devastating. We do not know how many pregnant females were killed or how many pups were born without support of pack mates. We do know that the quota set by the Natural Resources Board was 119 and 218 wolves were killed, many were torn apart by dogs. The quota in every zone was exceeded.

Despite the carnage of the Febuary hunt, another Wisconsin wolf hunting/trapping season is set to begin November 6. The Natural Resources Board set a quota of 300 wolves but the DNR overruled the Board reducing the quota to130. The tribes have the right to declare 1/2 the quota within the ceded territory and did so. This means of the 130 quota, 74 wolves can be killed by the hunting/trapping and 56 wolves are allocated to the tribes with no plans to kill them.

A quota of one is too many.

Conservation organizations filed a lawsuit alleging the 2011 law that requires Wisconsin to hold an annual wolf hunt is unconstitutional. Further, the commbination of the February hunt, the planned November hunt and the aggressive lethal control undertaken could cause the Wisconsin wolf population to drop 60%.

A motion was filed asking the court to issue an immediate injunction to stop the wolf hunt from moving forward.

Hunter Nation has filed a request to intervene in the lawsuits.

Court dates have been scheduled and the proceedings can be observed via zoom. Details below.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

1:30pm central time

Motion to Intervene by Hunter Nation

JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 943 2424 9379

Passcode: 611802

To participate by phone dial 1-312-626-6799, when prompted enter Meeting ID: 943 2424 9379

Thursday, October 21, 2021

2:00pm central time

Evidentiary Hearing on Temporary Injunction

JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 943 2424 9379

Passcode: 611802

To participate by phone dial 1-312-626-6799, when prompted enter Meeting ID: 943 2424 9379

TRIBAL LITAGATION

In September, six Chippewa tribes filed a federal lawsuit arguing the wolf hunt violates their treaty rights and endangers the wolf population.

On October 29, U-S District Judge James Peterson will hear arguments on the tribes’ request for a preliminary injunction that would stop the November hunt.

REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THESE LAWSUITS, IT IS STILL IMPORTANT TO CONTACT SECRETARY HAALAND. SHE HAS THE POWER TO RETURN FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR WOLVES.

Call her at (202) 208-3100, email her via [email protected], or use online form at bottom of page at https://www.doi.gov/contact-us.

Contact Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director of USFWS Call her at (800) 344-9453 or write her via www.fws.gov/duspit/contactus.htm.

THANK YOU!

Without YOU, our loyal supporters, the National Wolfwatcher Coalition would not be where we are today, with over 800,000 followers. We are appreciative of your support throughout the past years and look forward to your continued support in the future!

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