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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
March 19, 2003
This news release is posted at http://www.elkfoundation.org. For more information, contact Communications Director Steve Wagner at 800-CALL ELK, ext. 542, or swagner@rmef.org.
Elk Foundation asks Bush to support wolf management
MISSOULA, Mont.-Building a case for America's conservation ethic, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation today asked President Bush to help remove wolves from the protections afforded by federal law, and to support active wolf management through state wildlife agencies.
The conservation organization is also addressing its appeal to members of Congress.
Though newly reclassified from "endangered" to "threatened," wolves still enjoy considerable protections under the Endangered Species Act. However, many believe their populations are growing fast and could threaten sweeping social, economic and resource impacts. The Elk Foundation worries that wolves are making a mockery of the Act, as well as truly endangered species still deserving of federal attention. Leaders believe American citizens are responsible and deserve to be entrusted, through their state wildlife agencies, with managing all appropriate resident species, including wolves and other predators, as well as elk.
"Guided by science, sensitive to local realities and supervised by a conscientious citizenry, we feel that states are best qualified to achieve appropriate balances between their wildlife, people and habitat," wrote interim Elk Foundation President and CEO Jon Fossel, and Chairman of the Board Tom Baker, in a joint letter to Bush.
Additionally, the Elk Foundation supports federal allocation of funds to states charged with managing wolves. This would ensure that hunters are not solely burdened with the costs of new wolf management programs.
Habitat loss remains the Elk Foundation's primary concern for the future of elk and other wildlife. Urban sprawl, land use changes, unhealthy forests and noxious weeds chip away each day at the long-term viability of many species. This habitat loss has been exacerbated in the West by several years of unprecedented drought. Dry forage in our ever-dwindling wild areas has translated to malnourished elk herds incapable of producing healthy calves. Unmanaged wolf predation may be compounding these habitat problems.
For a full news release, and a copy of the actual letter sent to Bush, go to: http://www.elkfoundation.org/press_release...3?articleid=188.
NEWS from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
March 19, 2003
This news release is posted at http://www.elkfoundation.org. For more information, contact Communications Director Steve Wagner at 800-CALL ELK, ext. 542, or swagner@rmef.org.
Elk Foundation asks Bush to support wolf management
MISSOULA, Mont.-Building a case for America's conservation ethic, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation today asked President Bush to help remove wolves from the protections afforded by federal law, and to support active wolf management through state wildlife agencies.
The conservation organization is also addressing its appeal to members of Congress.
Though newly reclassified from "endangered" to "threatened," wolves still enjoy considerable protections under the Endangered Species Act. However, many believe their populations are growing fast and could threaten sweeping social, economic and resource impacts. The Elk Foundation worries that wolves are making a mockery of the Act, as well as truly endangered species still deserving of federal attention. Leaders believe American citizens are responsible and deserve to be entrusted, through their state wildlife agencies, with managing all appropriate resident species, including wolves and other predators, as well as elk.
"Guided by science, sensitive to local realities and supervised by a conscientious citizenry, we feel that states are best qualified to achieve appropriate balances between their wildlife, people and habitat," wrote interim Elk Foundation President and CEO Jon Fossel, and Chairman of the Board Tom Baker, in a joint letter to Bush.
Additionally, the Elk Foundation supports federal allocation of funds to states charged with managing wolves. This would ensure that hunters are not solely burdened with the costs of new wolf management programs.
Habitat loss remains the Elk Foundation's primary concern for the future of elk and other wildlife. Urban sprawl, land use changes, unhealthy forests and noxious weeds chip away each day at the long-term viability of many species. This habitat loss has been exacerbated in the West by several years of unprecedented drought. Dry forage in our ever-dwindling wild areas has translated to malnourished elk herds incapable of producing healthy calves. Unmanaged wolf predation may be compounding these habitat problems.
For a full news release, and a copy of the actual letter sent to Bush, go to: http://www.elkfoundation.org/press_release...3?articleid=188.
