| (From the Western Wolf Coalition - mk)
On Thursday, March 3, the Montana Senate Fish and Game Committee will hear testimony on HB 471, a bill that sets a maximum wolf population in the state at 15 breeding pairs. This bill would significantly reduce wolf populations in Montana. We believe wolves should be managed like other native wildlife, as a valuable part of Montana 's wildlife heritage, not as pests to be destroyed. Please email the Senate Fish and Game committee in Helena and urge them to VOTE NO on HB 471.
Background on HB 471 (Sponsored by Rep. Dan Kennedy).
• HB 471 sets and artificial cap on the number of wolves in Montana by capping the number of breeding pairs at 15.
• HB 471 will override Montana's wolf management plan - a plan that was derived after an extensive and open public process that included Montana sportsmen, conservation groups, ranchers and many others.
• Overriding Montana 's federally-approved Wolf Management Plan will only delay the day Montana gets to manage wolves.
Nearly a dozen other wolf-related bills have already been drafted in Helena. Besides increasing the killing of wolves in Montana, these bill hearings provide a forum for anti-wolf types to vilify wolves, carnivores and endangered species generally. That is why your legislators in Helena need to hear from you!
A handful of special interests are falsely blaming wolves for killing too many elk and livestock. In fact, elk populations have increased 60% statewide in Montana since wolves were reintroduced and 18% in the region (see: http://www.westernwolves.org/u... ). Furthermore, livestock lost to wolves represent less than 1% of livestock losses in the Northern Rockies. It's time to put the scare tactics aside, and manage wolves based upon reality, reason, and science. Thank you for speaking up for wolves and Montana 's wildlife heritage! |
