Target: Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader of the United States Senate
Back in February, several much needed protections were reinstated for the gray wolf after they were prematurely stripped of those federally afforded to them under the Endangered Species Act. However, a recent ruling in the U.S. Court has—once again—threatened the stability of this species. According to this ruling, members of agricultural groups, such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the American Sheep Industry Association, are now able to intervene in the case—Defenders of Wildlife vs. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—which instated national protection plans for gray wolves, and can defend the previous delisting of this species.
Farmer coalitions are said to be personally affected by wolf populations, since wolves occasionally prey on their livestock. But, all these farmers care about is that wolves are cutting into their finances—no matter how minimally. Is farmers’ greed more important than entire ecosystems? Because, if we were to ever lose wolves in the wild, that would be the cost. Delisting wolves—as most farmers are advocating for—would, in addition, likely affect current federal hunting regulations that, if raised, might contribute to yet another decline in populations of this keystone species.
Sign this petition to overturn the ruling that allows agricultural groups to intervene in this important, environmental decision and keep gray wolves federally protected.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Schumer,
Following the premature delisting of gray wolves, several important protections were reinstated under the Endangered Species Act back in February. Now, a recent court ruling is allowing agricultural groups to intervene in national protection plans for gray wolves and threatening entire ecosystems in the process. This new ruling challenges recent stability in wolf populations, as many farmer coalitions, angry that wolves occasionally prey on their livestock and cost them money, are mostly advocating to delist the species.
If gray wolves are stripped of their federal protections, they would no longer be subjected to protective ESA hunting and trapping regulations. These changes would likely have devastating effects on this highly sought after species. Since wolves are keystone species in the ecosystems to which they belong, any significant declines in the population—due to hunting or other reasons—will affect not just wolves, but the entire landscape as well.
We are asking you, Mr. Schumer, to demand this ruling which allows farmers to intervene in the fate of entire ecosystems is overturned.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: USFWS Endangered Species
