Monday, July 11, 2011

SAVE THE WOLVES FROM GUNS WITH BINOCULARS AND CAMERAS

As you may know, we recently lost our beloved black wolf Shadow, who inspired and fueled our passion to save wolves. We are determined to be as committed and resilient as she was in our mission.

This past May, in an unprecedented act, Congress removed Northern Rocky gray wolves from the Endangered Species List, stripping them of their federal protections. Currently, legal action is being taken by leading environmental organizations to prove that act to be unconstitutional and an abuse of the legislative process.

The legal process is extremely time consuming, and their success will come much too late for the wolves in Wyoming or Idaho and Montana, where wolf hunting season begins in August! Two thirds of the wolves are designated targets and Idaho is preparing to enact state laws that would guarantee them the right to enact similar laws as Wyoming where just last week, wolves were delisted and Secretary of State Ken Salazar and newly appointed head of Fish & Wildlife, Dan Ashe approved the state's current management that allows wolves to be shot on site at any time.

We believe that the only way to meet the immediate need to save these wolves is to launch a campaign demonstrating how very crucial they are not only to the environment but to the local economies; to show that they are more profitable alive than dead.

Ecotourism is a billion dollar industry for the Yellowstone National Park. In 2010, close to 4 million visitors that traveled there specifically to see wildlife, especially the wolf. Research suggests that visitors to the park stay an average of 3.2 days spending $108 per day. That equals approximately $1,382,400,000 and benefits local businesses, private citizens and local governments. Significantly more than revenue collected from hunting and fishing licenses combined. In spite of this, Congress voted to protect special interests that falsely blame the wolf for their economic losses. We want the people of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and all visitors and friends of wildlife to speak up and let it be known that the wolf is good for business.

If you have not yet planned your summer or winter vacation, we ask that you take a trip to Yellowstone National Park, by way of Idaho or Montana and shout from the rooftops that you are there to see the wolves - armed with cameras and binoculars, instead of guns.

Because this is our first introduction of this campaign idea, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. We also urge you to participate by telling your friends and booking your trip for an exciting rescue and recovery mission...the wolves need your help!