Dear Guardian,
As you know, a small anti-wolf group in Idaho wants to make a game of
killing wolves and other carnivores on our public lands. Last week, after
you and thousands of others spoke out and Guardians and our allies filed suit, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reversed course and revoked its permit for five years of
killing contests targeting wolves, coyotes and other carnivores across public
lands in Idaho. That means the contest cannot take place on BLM administered
public lands.
This is great news and we are celebrating, but the Forest Service is
still maintaining its position that no permit is required and that the contest
can occur on public lands administered by that agency. Join us in telling
the Forest Service to live up to its duty to protect our public lands for all
Americans.
Children as young as ten could participate in the killing contest, and up
to 500 people could participate for three days over the holiday season each
year. Imagine the danger
that many people trying to kill as many carnivores as possible would pose to
people peacefully recreating on our public lands. Tell the Forest Service to keep the killing contest off our public
lands.
Wildlife killing
contests are ethically indefensible. Biologically and ecologically reckless,
they demean the immense ecological value of carnivores, and teach children to
trivialize the lives of animals.
Join us in telling the Forest Service that
killing contests do not belong on our public lands in Idaho or anywhere.
For the wild,
Bethany Cotton
Wildlife Program Director
WildEarth Guardians
bcotton@wildearthguardians.org
P.S. Will you help us raise $20,000 for our Idaho Wolf and Coyote Defense Fund? A Guardians’ board member will match every gift up to $10,000, so your investment in ending cruelty will be instantly doubled.
Photo credits: Howing mad wolf: Retron, public domain. wolf puppies: © Tim Fitzharris. coyotes: Sam Parks with permission.
