PRESS RELEASE: Department of Interior officially proposes to remove Endangered Species Act protections for the wolf; Statement from Howling For Wolves

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2019

CONTACT: Dr. Maureen Hackett, Howling For Wolves, 612.250.5915 or Leslie Rosedahl, respond@howlingforwolves.org 651.353.1818

Department of Interior officially proposes to remove Endangered Species Act protections for the wolf; Statement from Howling For Wolves

 (St. Paul, Minn.) – Today the Acting Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, officially announced a proposed rule to administratively delist and remove Endangered Species Act protections for wolves, which would allow for state management. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, and a 60-day public comment period will follow before a final rule is made.

Dr. Maureen Hackett, founder and president of Howling For Wolves, a Minnesota-based wolf advocacy organization, said in response:

“The battle to protect the wolf began when they were first listed as endangered in 1974. Since then, efforts by the Department of Interior to remove these protections have occurred continuously because the agency is under constant pressure to delist wolves so special interests can develop land and extract resources without concern for an endangered species.

This proposal to remove federal protections for the wolf would allow unfettered wolf killing including wolf trophy hunting. We oppose removal of federal protections for the wolf.”

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Howling For Wolves President and Founder Maureen Hackett is available via phone, or Board Member Joe Wolf in person, for individual media interviews to highlight:

• What this federal action means for the gray wolf in Minnesota
• Ongoing wolf and wildlife legislation under consideration at the Minnesota State Legislature
• The potential of a future state-organized wolf trophy hunt in Minnesota.

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Howling For Wolves educates the public about the wild wolf to foster tolerance and to ensure the wolf’s long-term survival. Howling For Wolves opposes recreational wolf hunting and trapping and all wildlife snaring. We advocate for nonlethal prevention methods that reduce wolf-livestock conflicts and support current federal protections for the wolf. www.HowlingForWolves.org.