PRESS RELEASE: Howling For Wolves comments on today’s introduction of federal bills that weaken the Endangered Species Act
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2018
CONTACT: Dr. Maureen Hackett, Howling For Wolves, 612.250.5915
Howling For Wolves comments on today’s introduction of federal bills that weaken the Endangered Species Act
(St. Paul, Minn) – Today the Congressional Western Caucus released a package of bills that undermine and weaken the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Maureen Hackett, MD, founder and president of Howling For Wolves, said in response:
“Howling For Wolves strongly opposes weakening the Endangered Species Act. The ESA is a last resort for many species that we will lose forever if not protected. Almost all species placed on the list are prevented from going extinct.
The wolf in Minnesota continues to need federal protections because without it our state can implement wolf trophy hunts. In 2012 state politicians and the Minnesota DNR disregarded effective, science-based, and nonlethal strategies and held a three-year wolf trophy hunt immediately after wolves lost federal protections. Although today’s proposal is touted as “modernization,” it should instead be called the “Eliminating Species Act” because it relies on the same “local control” that nearly wiped out the wolf forever.
We need to keep the wolf – and other endangered and threatened species – protected for future generations.”
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Howling For Wolves is a Minnesota-based wolf advocacy organization working to educate the public and policy-makers about wolves, to foster understanding and tolerance, and to ensure their long-term survival in the wild. HFW supports effective, science-based, and nonlethal wolf plans to support and promote human and gray wolf coexistence into the future.
July 12, 2018