Conservation Groups Urge Obama to Help Delist Wolves

MISSOULA, Mont.-President Obama last week receiveed a letter from 32 partner conservation organizations including the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation urging him to remove federal protections for specific populations of gray wolves.
February 09, 2009President Barack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500Dear President Obama:On behalf of millions of our nation's sportsmen and women, the undersigned conservation organizations urge you to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) decision to remove the western Great Lakes population and portions of the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As you are aware, hunters and anglers have always supported the legal protection of fish and wildlife species that require that protection to survive and flourish. In the case of the subject of gray wolf populations, ESA protection is no longer legally required or necessary.The recovery plan's biological goals for wolves in the Rocky Mountains were attained in 2002. Both population size and breeding pair estimates now exceed recovery goals by 500% and 333%, respectively. The western Great Lakes population has also exceeded its population goals for several years. The decision to list or delist a species under the ESA requires a process based solely on the scientific analysis of the species' ability to survive in the foreseeable future. The population levels attained in both areas, current productivity rates, state fish and wildlife agency wolf management plans, and the FWS's five year monitoring plan assure that wolf populations will be abundant and sustainable for the foreseeable future.The ESA's true measure of success is the recovery of species once threatened with extinction. Gray wolf numbers in the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes regions have dramatically increased since their original listing in 1974. This recovery was due to the efforts of federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, tribal governments, hunters, and private landowners. It has been a clear demonstration that the ESA can succeed when supported by diverse stakeholders. Please provide your support and encouragement to the FWS and the Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor to vigorously defend their decision to delist gray wolf populations based on the best science that is available to them. In the past, some ESA lawsuits have neither been founded in science nor the spirit and intent of the ESA. We know that your administration will receive pressure to reverse this decision but biologists, hunters, land managers, private landowners, and other citizens across the nation have worked hard and made sacrifices to achieve recovery for wolves. They deserve to know that the ESA really does work. The undersigned organizations stand ready with your administration to celebrate another ESA recovery success story.We thank you for your consideration of this request.Sincerely,Archery Trade Association Bear Trust International Boone & Crockett Club Bowhunting Preservation Alliance Campfire Club of AmericaCatch-a-Dream-FoundationCongressional Sportsmen's Foundation Conservation Force Dallas Safari Club Ducks Unlimited Houston Safari Club Mule Deer Foundation National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses National Rifle Association National Shooting Sports Foundation National Trappers Association National Wild Turkey FederationNorth American Bear Foundation North American Grouse Partnership Orion - The Hunter's InstitutePheasants Forever Pope & Young ClubQuail ForeverQuality Deer Management Association Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ruffed Grouse Society Safari Club International Texas Wildlife Association U.S. Sportsmen's AllianceWhitetails Unlimited Wild Sheep FoundationWildlife ForeverWildlife Management InstituteCC: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior