On June 29, 1998, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt announced a proposal to remove some gray wolf populations from the endangered species list and to reclassify others.
The U.S . Fish & Wildlife Service intends to publish a proposed rule that will de-list the gray wolf in every state east of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico with the exception of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. While the proposal is a major victory for advocates of northeast wolf recovery, the de-listing of the wolf in the Great Lakes states may negatively impact the expanding wolf populations in that area of the U.S.
In the northeast, the USF&WS will propose that the status of the gray wolf be downgraded from endangered to threatened. This proposed action serves as a compromise to the more stringent protection afforded by its present endangered status, yet maintains federal protection for the wolf in the four northeast states. In addition to maintaining federal protection, a recovery plan and environmental impact statement must also must also be developed and implemented.
During the next several months, the USF&WS will be preparing the formal proposal. Although the formal public comment period is expected to begin in early 1999 and will last for several months, the Service is accepting comments now.
We ask you to please express your support for northeast wolf recovery now by asking the USF&WS to 1) Maintain federal protection for wolves in the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine; 2) Develop and implement a Northeast Gray Wolf Recovery Plan; and 3) Conduct an Environmental Impact Statement for the northeast which is to consider a range of options for wolf recovery.
You can express your support here or via E-mail to: graywolfmail@mail.fws.gov
You can also express your support by writing to:
Jamie Clark, Director
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
and
Ron Refsnider
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
The future of wolf recovery in the northeast is in our hands. Now is the time for action! If we fail to demonstrate our support for wolf recovery, we may never have another chance. We have persecuted to wolf for centuries, driving it to the brink of extinction across the United States. Let's right the wrong by allowing the wolf to return. The wolf needs your help. Now!