Happy Mother’s Day!
Springtime is puppy time for lobos. After spending a winter following elk herds over long distances, Mexican gray wolves are settling down to have and raise new pups. And with only about 42 Mexican wolves left in the wild, these pups need your help to survive.
Over the past few years, lobo supporters have written thousands of letters and emails to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made phone calls to officials, submitted letters to the editor, and aided the efforts of conservation groups to save the highly endangered Mexican wolf.
These actions are making a real difference. Last year, the agency took a big step in the right direction and ended a disastrous policy of killing or removing wolves involved in three livestock depredations. But with just 42 wolves in the wild, more actions are urgently needed.
Out of thirty-one puppies born last year, only seven survived. We must keep the pressure on the Fish and Wildlife Service to save the Mexican wolf before it’s too late.
You can help by doing any or all of the following things:
WRITE TO SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR KEN SALAZAR and copy your letter to your elected representatives
Tell them:
1. A 20 percent decline in this population is unacceptable. We want wolves to survive and thrive in the southwest.
2. The US Fish and Wildlife Service took some positive steps in 2009, but additional changes are urgently needed. To immediately and aggressively recover Mexican wolves from the brink of extinction, the Service must:
- Release more wolves into the wild and bolster the genetic fitness of the population
- Stop the criminal killing of wolves
- Establish additional populations of Mexican wolves in suitable areas
- Write a new science-based Recovery Plan because the outdated 1982 plan is clearly not working.
Address for Secretary Salazar:
Ken Salazar
U.S. Secretary of the Interior
1849 C. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Email: exsec@ios.doi.gov
WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
These are read by elected officials and interpreted as representing broadly held viewpoints.
In writing your letter, use the talking points above and helpful letter-writing tips.
Open your letter by referencing a recent article, i.e., “I’m writing in response to the [date] article in the [name of paper],” and then go straight to your message.
Emphasize why Mexican wolves and their recovery are so important to you and to our wild places.
Newspapers’ editorial contacts:
Arizona Daily Star letters@azstarnet.com
Arizona Republic:http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Arizona Daily Sun: http://news.azdailysun.com/opinion/letter_submit.cfm
Las Cruces Sun-News letters@lcsun-news.com
Santa Fe New Mexican http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SendLetter/
Silver City Sun News hwise@scsun-news.com
Albuquerque Journal: http://www.abqjournal.com/letters/new
White Mountain Independent: postmaster@wmicentral.com
3. SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Sharing this information with the people you know is one of the most effective actions you can take. In addition to telling them about the dire situation the wolves are in, you can also:
* Email them this action alert.
* Recommend our website: www.mexicanwolves.org
* Invite them to visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mexican-gray-wolves/74849366944?ref=mf
Your actions will make a big difference for these highly endangered wolves.
On behalf of lobo moms and their new pups, thank you! And Happy Mother’s Day!
http://www.mexicanwolves.org/uploads/images/family%20Sedgwick%20County%20zoo%20sm.jpg
