U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REOPENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON 2007 PROPOSAL TO DELIST NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF GRAY WOLVES UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
After spending the morning working on a presentation for ways that my current employer can "Green" its operations, I am reflective of how I became pro-environmentalist.
It began with my dogs. One of my dogs has anxiety issues. I had tried all the training tools, watched endless episodes of The Dog Whisperer, changed her food - everything up to the point of putting her on meds. I changed my strategy to research her source of anxiety. I began watching programs on the progression of dog breed evolution - which led me to watching/searching for information on wolves. I watched endless episodes on wolf behavior, instincts, and pack behavior. I came across a copy of Wolves.
Please follow as my story continues.
This documentary was not unlike many of the other documentaries I had seen in content - though the cinematography is spectacular. It was that I happened to watched the "Extra Bonus" at the end of the DVD which went into detail about the challenges of the Wolf Reintroduction to Yellowstone. I felt a compulsion to find out about the group The Defenders of Wildlife who were so bold as to propose the Reintroduction Plan against all political odds.
I began to research more about the eradication of wolves in America in the 1800's as wolves encroached on livestock.
Inspired by the traditional European hatred of the wolf, the early settlers attacked the wolf using pits, traps, and poison. Bounties - cash rewards given by authorities to anyone who brought in the hide or some other part of a dead wolf helped things along. The American war against the wolf did not really get under way until the 1800s, when people began to move onto the great plains in the center of the country. Here there were enormous herds of buffalo, which served as a food supply for Indian tribes and for large numbers of wolves. All three of these - Indian, buffalo and the wolf were doomed to be brought almost to the point of extinction by 'civilization'.
Full article here
In Yellowstone, prior to the wolves' reintroduction in 1995, elk basically roamed wherever they chose and tended to spend most of their time in the river valleys. This excessive streamside grazing prevented willow and cottonwood tree growth along the riverbanks. But when the wolves returned, the elk quickly learned they couldn't set up permanent housekeeping in the valleys and they moved on to make a living in other areas. This, in turn, allowed young trees to grow along the riverbeds. The new trees shaded the river water, creating improved habitat for trout, which thrive in cooler, darker waters. The new willows and cottonwoods attract additional migratory birds and provided new food sources and building materials for beavers. The beavers then built dams, which created new marshes and wetlands that in turn attracted otters, ducks and other species.
Full article here
Removal of wolves from large areas of the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries altered the natural relationships among animals ecologically associated with wolves. This disruption led to increases in some species and declines in others, adversely affecting biological diversity. Removing large predators allowed smaller, more generalized predators to increase their numbers, range and exploitation of food sources. For example, when gray wolves were eliminated, coyote numbers exploded. Similarly, elimination of red wolves from the southeastern United States was followed by an increase in coyotes and raccoons, which in turn caused a reduction in wild turkeys (Miller et. al. 1997).
Full article here
It so happens that as I am becoming more informed on the plight of the wolf, a fisher cat took up residence in the forest behind my yard. (I lived in northern CT at the time). I became obsessed with watching wildlife documentaries, talking to park officials about native species, getting involved in wildlife groups.
I began connecting the dots between species and ecosystems and how the elimination of any species will have a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem - and ultimately to we humans. (More on bees and bats, later)
Wildlife faces many challenges as urban sprawl continues.
The arguments between preservation and conservation continue.
How can we live in a modern world and continue to have respect for the wildlife we share it with?
How much are we going to have to collectively pay for the benefits we reap from wildlife?
When will we be willing to trade short-term convenience for long term health? (google Trash Vortex)
As for Obama's appointments - I am looking to the position of the Secretary of the Interior and who will head Fish and Wildlife. These appointments will determine our future of generations as much as the Lieberman-Warner Act.
By the way, my dog is doing much better. Cesar is right about 2 things: working dogs need to channel that instinct and exercise is a great valve to relieve nervous energy
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REOPENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON 2007 PROPOSAL TO DELIST NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF GRAY WOLVES UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is reopening the public comment period on its proposal to delist the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains. The public will have until November 28, 2008, to submit their comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or via U.S. mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN 1018-Au53; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
Through a notice in the Federal Register scheduled to publish on October 28, 2008, the Service is asking the public to provide comments and any additional information on the 2007 proposal to delist wolves. The Service is seeking additional information on a variety of topics related to the delisting. More details are available in the Federal Register notice which will be posted along with associated materials at the Service's northern Rocky Mountains wolf website: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov
On July 18, 2008, the U.S. Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana, issued an order immediately reinstating Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains. In September 2008, the Service requested the court vacate and remand the final delisting rule back to the Service. The court granted the Service's request on October 13, 2008.
At this time, the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves remains under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The area affected by this ruling includes all of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming and the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon and parts of north-central Utah. Management of the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves is now governed by the same Endangered Species Act protections that were in effect before wolves were delisted on March 28, 2008.
"The Service is committed to ensuring that wolves thrive in the northern Rocky Mountains and will continue to work with the states and the public to advance the recovery of the species," said Steve Guertin, Regional Director for the Mountain-Prairie Region.
The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains is 30 breeding pairs and at least 300 wolves for three consecutive years, a goal that was attained in 2002 and has been exceeded every year since. The proposed northern Rocky Mountain population of wolves includes all of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of north-central Utah. Gray wolves were previously listed as endangered in the lower 48 states, except in Minnesota, where they were listed as threatened. The wolf population in the Midwest was delisted in early 2007 but that decision was reversed in court in October 2008.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.