Just before this week's government shutdown, the Department of the Interior held its first public comment hearing  in Washington, DC. HFW founder and president Maureen Hackett used her allotted two minutes to explain why removing all gray wolves in the lower 48 from federal protection puts wolves in danger of disappearing. Dr. Hackett summarized the Minnesota experience of having wolves put under state management authority. MN demonstrates how even the best state plans can be changed in spite of promises made in advance. In MN, we’ve witnessed a rush to hunt give rise to a more vocal and extreme hatred toward the wolf, and wolves continue to be killed outside the legal hunting season. Hackett’s testimony followed two speakers in favor of delisting all gray wolves.
Listen to these powerful 2 minutes here.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota we are asking Governor Mark Dayton to suspend the upcoming 2013 wolf hunting and trapping season. Some have asked whether the Governor has the authority to suspend a hunt. The answer is yes. Of course the Governor can suspend a recreational hunting season on the wolf; he is the executive leader in authority of his commissioners and his state agencies. But that is not all. The DNR alone could suspend the hunt, just as it suspended the moose season. As the Governor stated, the legislature also has the power to suspend the hunt. That is why our petition is going to all of these state leaders. Our push now is toward the Governor as he is the leader and he can act right now.
With 37 days left we need everyone who receives this email to find 2 Minnesotans to sign our petition and show the Governor the will of the people. This petition will go to state legislators to demonstrate that voters want to suspend wolf hunting and trapping in Minnesota.
Please sign, share and collect signatures: suspend the hunt!
Keep howling,
Howling for Wolves
Photo of wild MN wolf: Mike Cervantes
|
|
