Support Washington's wolves

Need for comment is over. On Dec 3, 2011, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the state wolf plan.

Thanks for your support for Washington's wolves!

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has released an environmental impact statement and preferred plan to address conservation, management, and recovery of Washington's wolves.

Washington's proposed wolf plan is scientifically sound, collaborative, and compelling. Send your support by comment deadline of Friday, Nov 18, 2011.

It's none too soon for a state plan: Wolves are returning on their own, including the Teanaway pack in the Cascades. There are now five wolf packs in our state. But with poaching of the Lookout pack and loss of federal protection for the Diamond, Salmo, and Smackout packs, the position of Washington's wolves is precarious. They need a science-based recovery plan.

Now is the time to let Washington's Fish & Wildlife Commission know that state residents want a strong plan for Washington's wolves. Urge the Commission to adopt the wolf plan and to maintain its scientific integrity. The Commission is hearing from wolf opponents. They need to hear from you, too!

Learn more about Washington's wolves as well as fuller talking points for wolves. Personal, specific comments are most powerful. Please edit the following letter.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Dear Washington Wildlife Commission members,

I am delighted to see wolves returning to our state. I value their positive effect on our ecosystems and wish to see gray wolves recover as soon as possible.

The Wolf Management and Conservation Plan is a pragmatic and broadly supported plan for restoring wolves, minimizing livestock/wolf conflicts, maintaining healthy ungulate populations and hunting opportunities, and ensuring that wolves can eventually serve their keystone role in Washington’s ecosystems.

I urge you to adopt this wolf plan for the following reasons:

* The wolf plan was developed through the hard work of a diverse 17-member stakeholder group, reviewed by scientists, and publically vetted across the state. A majority of the working group members support the plan. It is appropriate to honor the efforts of the stakeholder group and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and adopt the final plan.

* According to scientists, a minimum of 15 breeding pairs must be present for 3 years and distributed across three recovery regions before wolves may be removed from protected status.

* It is inappropriate to put a cap or an upper limit on the total number of wolves in Washington, since predators are self regulating. No native species in Washington has ever been subject to a population cap.

*  Lethal “take” (legal killing of wolves) may only be used as a last resort if non-lethal methods have proven unsuccessful.

Thank you for ensuring that Washington's visionary wolf plan is strong enough to conserve, manage, and recover wolves in a balanced way that will ease the transition for everyone, including the wolves.

Sincerely,

Commissioners

WA Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
US

Phone:(360) 902-2267

Fax:(360) 902-2448

Want to go a step farther for wolves? Join as a member of Conservation Northwest, further protecting and connecting habitat for wolves and other Northwest wildlife!

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Support Washington's wolves

Need for comment is over. On Dec 3, 2011, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the state wolf plan.

Thanks for your support for Washington's wolves!

Commissioners

Conservation Northwest offices

Sections

Personal tools

Document Actions

Support Washington's wolves

Need for comment is over. On Dec 3, 2011, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the state wolf plan. Thanks for your support for Washington's wolves!

Commissioners

Conservation Northwest offices

Need for comment is over. On Dec 3, 2011, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the state wolf plan.

Thanks for your support for Washington's wolves!