ATENCION!!!!!!!!

WOLF SUPPORTERS NEEDED NOW! On Friday, July 6th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a 30-day comment period on two new proposals. The first would change the Rule under which wolves are managed and the second would allow Wyoming to kill wolves on sight in 90% of the state. Combined, these two proposals would sanction the killing of more than 700 wolves in the northern Rockies, which is more than half of the wolves that exist there today -- and would include aerial gunning of packs and a re-opening of Idaho’s plan to kill 75% of the wolves in the Clearwater’s Lolo District. This is likely your last opportunity to speak in defense of federal wolf protection in the northern Rockies. Please plan to attend a hearing next week and/or submit your comments in writing before the August 6, 2007 deadline. Tuesday, July 17th in Cody, Wyoming (12:30 - 8:30 pm) at the Cody Auditorium, 1240 Beck Ave. There are two hearings the same day in Cody. The first hearing concerns the proposal to modify the 10(j) wolf management rule and runs from 12:30-3:30, with an information/Q and A session during the first hour, followed by two hours for public testimony. The second hearing concerns delisting in the region under Wyoming’s wolf control plan and runs from 4:30-8:30, with an information/Q and A session during the first hour, followed by three hours for public testimony (The latter is the only hearing scheduled in the region pertaining to the US Fish and Wildlife Service's delisting proposal even though the proposal affects six states). Wednesday, July 18th, in Helena, Montana from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Jorgenson’s Inn & Suites, 1714 11th Ave. regarding modifying the 10(j) rule (with an Open House from 6:00-7:00 p.m.). Thursday, July 19th, in Boise, Idaho from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Boise Convention Center on the Grove, 850 Front St. regarding modifying the 10(j) rule (with an Open House from 6:00-7:00 p.m.). Formulating Your Comments for the 10J Rule Hearings in Boise, Helena and Cody: As a local or regional resident, your voice is especially important to the future of our wolves in the region. Use the points below to help formulate your comments for the hearing. If possible, please bring a printed copy of your comments to the public hearing to ensure that the Service accurately records your concerns. Wolf Rule Changes: I oppose the Fish & Wildlife Service’s plan to change wolf management rules under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. The revised management rules would pose an unacceptable threat to the long term viability of gray wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies region. The rule change is completely unnecessary. Wolves can already be killed if they attack or threaten livestock or if they are the primary cause of elk population declines. The new, vaguer definition of "unacceptable impacts" on elk and other ungulates would cause wolves to be killed not just for causing game populations to fall below state targets, but also if wolves affect deer or elk movements or behavior in almost any way. According to the state wildlife agency estimates, game populations are thriving in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Under the proposed changes, endangered wolves could be killed just for fulfilling their natural role in their ecosystem. Under the revised rule, people could kill wolves that they claim are "chasing, molesting or harassing" livestock, pack animals or even hunting dogs -- claims that are difficult to prove. Even wolves defending their own pups on National Forest or Wilderness lands could be shot for doing so. If you can’t make any of the hearings on the 10(j) Rule change, you can submit written comments by email or letter. Send emails to: WolfRuleChange@fws.gov You must write "RIN number 1018-Av39" in the subject line Send letters to: USFWS, Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator 585 Shepard Way Helena, MT 59601 Formulating Your Comments for the Cody Wolf Control Plan Hearing Wyoming's Wolf Control Plan: I oppose the proposal to accept Wyoming’s so called management plan for gray wolves and remove gray wolves in that state from the list of Threatened and Endangered Species. The plan is strikingly similar to the proposal the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rightly rejected even in court but has now succumbed to accepting. Wyoming’s plan would classify wolves as "predatory animals" in the majority of the state, allowing wolves to be shot on sight by anyone, anytime, anywhere. Trapping, baiting, aerial gunning, and possibly even poisoning would also become legal. Wyoming officials have already announced plans to kill all but 100 wolves as soon as possible, and to manage wolves at the lowest population levels that are legally permissible going forward. Use fact-based arguments. You can learn more about the issue at http://www.idahowolves.org/ or http://www.wyomingwolves.org/. Make your comments persona. Indicate any professional experience or expertise that informs your opinion (e.g. "As a high school science teacher, I know the important role our wolves play…"). If you are a local resident, hunter, rancher or farmer, please say so. Describe any personal experience that shapes your opinion on protecting wolves (e.g. "Our family vacation wouldn’t have been complete without seeing a wolf…") If you submitted comments earlier this year to continue Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves, please say so. Be polite. Insulting or overly emotional comments may be dismissed out-of hand. If you can’t make this hearing on the Wyoming wolf plan, you can submit written comments by email or letter. Send emails to: WesternGrayWolf@fws.gov You must write "RIN number 1018-Au53" in the subject line (NOTE – this is a different email address and a different RIN number than that provided for the wolf rule change Be sure to send to the correct email address for each of the two different proposals and be sure to include the correct RIN number in your subject line) Send letters to: USFWS, Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator 585 Shepard Way Helena, MT 59601