URGENT ALERT: Orrin Hatch Reintroduces Wolf Legislation

Another Gray Wolf Extinction Bill Threatens the Survival of Mexican Wolves

From Ken Cole, The Wildlife News Blog
Yesterday, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) reintroduced a bill (S.249) described as “[a] bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that Act shall not apply to any gray wolf (Canis lupus).” This, in effect, could lead to the eradication of wolves anyplace in the U.S. especially in areas such as the Northern Rockies and those Mexican Gray Wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, made the following statement on the legislation:

“The Endangered Species Act is one of the nation’s landmark environmental laws and has protected iconic species like the bald eagle. The Act, which unanimously passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Nixon, relies on the best available science to make decisions about how to protect the nation’s threatened and endangered species.

Legislation introduced today that completely and irreversibly removes the Gray Wolf from the list of threatened and endangered species sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the Endangered Species Act and threatens the continued existence of the Gray Wolf across this country.

We objected to moving similar legislation on the floor of the Senate in December of last year, and we remain just as opposed today. But we also look forward to working with our colleagues on an approach that follows the science, addresses the concerns of local communities, and upholds the integrity of the Endangered Species Act.”

Additional info:

Hatch’s bill, American Big Game and Livestock Protection Act (S.249), would remove Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves.

Hatch’s statement claims erroneously that “Gray wolves are no longer endangered.”

Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and James Risch (R-Idaho) are co-sponsoring the bill.

PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL AND MAKE PHONE CALLS TO THE US SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS-

TELL THEM THESE ATTEMPTS TO GUT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT THREATEN WOLVES AND ALL WILDLIFE AND MUST BE STOPPED!

Letters to the entire Committee can be sent via online form:
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Majority Office
410 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6175
phone: 202-224-8832

Minority Office
456 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6175
phone: 202-224-6176

More detailed contact information for the US Senate Committee On
Environment and Public Works can be found at:
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Thank You!!