Folks,
The headline today in the Huffington Post is Independent Peer Review Panel Rejects Science Behind Secretary Jewell's Proposal to Delist Wolves. The writer of the article attempts to argue that the findings of the panel, means the nationwide wolf delisting should be withdrawn.
I am writing you today, to set the record straight. Here is what you need to know about this article and the most recent developments in the wolf-delisting saga:
Summary
There are four important points to understand what is going on.
(1) Consider the source: this article was written by the Executive Director of the “Endangered Species Coalition” who represents many of the same activist organizations who have sued repeatedly to stop wolf-delisting.
(2) Game of Taxonomy: The fact is that the science review panel largely rehashed existing debates about how to categorize different wolf “breeds.” These are longstanding debates both for wolves and endangered species in general. It is questionable to suggest that this alters the “best available science.”
(3) More of the same: For more than a decade these same activist groups have been trying to stop state management of wolves. The legal/administrative/political tactic they often use is to exploit technicalities of the ESA and to manipulate the science to attempt to stop wolf delisting. They are using the same tactic again…no surprise.
(4) We need your help: Help spread the word. These activist groups have tens of thousands of activists. You can help by encouraging other hunters, ranchers and rural residents to sign the petition at http://biggameforever.org. With tens of millions of sportsmen nationwide, our collective voice is critical to protect abundant wildlife.
Detailed Discussion
(1) Consider the Source
This article on Huffington Post was written by the Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition (according to the credits on the Huffington Post website.) Consider the source as you read this type of article. For example, member groups of the Endangered Species Coalition include many of the familiar wolf activist organizations including Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resource Defense Council, The Center for Biodiversity, Earth Justice and the U.S. Humane Society. These are the same groups that are: (a) pushing for a nationwide wolf expansion; and (b) attacking the right of states to restore balance to wolf numbers. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these same groups are attacking the published delisting proposal.
(2) Games with Taxonomy
There is little that is new in the report from the independent review panel. In fact, the group spent most of their time rehashing a long-standing debate about how to categorize the different “breeds” of wolves in the United States. The group acknowledged this is a challenge given the high level of gene flow amongst different population of wolves.
The debate on genetics is a very common theme in endangered species advocacy. In fact, most geneticists acknowledge there are some biologists commonly referred to as “splitters.” Splitters go to great lengths to re-categorize regional wildlife populations either as new species or a new subspecies. Activists favor the splitter philosophy because it provides an excuse for listing existing populations of the same animal as new endangered species. By categorizing different regional populations as new species or subspecies, activists can argue that state wildlife management autonomy should be replaced with federally mandated wildlife regulatory control.
Under the Endangered Species Act, the “Best Available Science” is the standard for making a delisting determination. One of the panelists acknowledged, “I don’t think there is a glaring absence of the science that they looked at.” Another panelist indicated, “Science is always a moving target. USFWS has to make a decision at a given moment of time.” The bottom line is that the Service should follow its legal obligation to use available science rather than speculation, unproven theories or other unresolved issues at the time the decision is made.
(3) More of the Same
A new round of technicalities to derail wolf-delisting proposal is not surprising. However, it is a slippery slope for effective decision-making. This is one of the reasons that Congress intervened and delisted wolves through Congressional Action in 2010. The ESA delisting process had become ineffective for wolves because of repeated lawsuit. Delays in delisting meant states were hamstrung to protect declining ungulate species.
Many of these wolf lawsuits exploit technicalities under the Endangered Species Act. Theses lawsuits often attempt to move the goal posts for recovery under the guise of “science.” For example, in one lawsuit heard before Judge Molloy, lawyers for these same activist groups argued that the population objective for delisting should be moved from 300 wolves to 5,000 wolves. Not only was a population of 5,000 wolves unsustainable in the Northern Rockies (and likely unattainable), it would have had serious conservation consequences for other wildlife species.
It is not a surprise that activists groups are attempting to move the “recovery” goal posts again. This time, they are arguing that we should wait for new taxonomy theories to be resolved. Is this just another attempt to mandate radical expansion of wolf populations across America before delisting can occur?
These are the same tactics that have been utilized for over a decade to prevent the federal government of fulfilling its commitments to the states to delist wolves and restore state management authority. Keeping the long-standing commitments to delist is important to maintain the trust and support of states, sportsmen, ranchers and rural communities that support responsible and balanced restoration of endangered species. It is also critical step to ensure multi-species conservation.
(4) We need your help
At Big Game Forever we strive to provide you with timely news, accurate information and the tools to protect our rights as hunters. Abundant wild game populations on America’s public and private lands are worth protecting. Our rights as hunters are worth protecting.
There are two ways you can help:
(A) Please spread the word to the petition in support of state wolf management at http://biggameforever.org/ There are tens of millions of American Sportsmen. Working together is the best way to protect our wild game in America. Many of these activist organizations have been building grass roots networks for decades. They have tens of thousands of members who use grass roots pressure to advance their radical agenda. Let’s raise our collective voice about the importance of protecting wild game in America. By signing the petition at http://biggameforever.org/, you are joining a network of tens of thousands of sportsmen who support abundant wild game, balanced state management of wildlife and the rights as sportsmen.
(B) Stay tuned for coming action alerts as the nationwide wolf delisting continues to move through the political and legal process. We will need thousands of your emails, phone calls and support to ensure USFWS fulfills its longstanding commitment to restore state management authority over wolves. This is a critical step to the conservation and protection of moose, elk, deer and other species of wildlife in America.
Thank you for your support,
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
The headline today in the Huffington Post is Independent Peer Review Panel Rejects Science Behind Secretary Jewell's Proposal to Delist Wolves. The writer of the article attempts to argue that the findings of the panel, means the nationwide wolf delisting should be withdrawn.
I am writing you today, to set the record straight. Here is what you need to know about this article and the most recent developments in the wolf-delisting saga:
Summary
There are four important points to understand what is going on.
(1) Consider the source: this article was written by the Executive Director of the “Endangered Species Coalition” who represents many of the same activist organizations who have sued repeatedly to stop wolf-delisting.
(2) Game of Taxonomy: The fact is that the science review panel largely rehashed existing debates about how to categorize different wolf “breeds.” These are longstanding debates both for wolves and endangered species in general. It is questionable to suggest that this alters the “best available science.”
(3) More of the same: For more than a decade these same activist groups have been trying to stop state management of wolves. The legal/administrative/political tactic they often use is to exploit technicalities of the ESA and to manipulate the science to attempt to stop wolf delisting. They are using the same tactic again…no surprise.
(4) We need your help: Help spread the word. These activist groups have tens of thousands of activists. You can help by encouraging other hunters, ranchers and rural residents to sign the petition at http://biggameforever.org. With tens of millions of sportsmen nationwide, our collective voice is critical to protect abundant wildlife.
Detailed Discussion
(1) Consider the Source
This article on Huffington Post was written by the Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition (according to the credits on the Huffington Post website.) Consider the source as you read this type of article. For example, member groups of the Endangered Species Coalition include many of the familiar wolf activist organizations including Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resource Defense Council, The Center for Biodiversity, Earth Justice and the U.S. Humane Society. These are the same groups that are: (a) pushing for a nationwide wolf expansion; and (b) attacking the right of states to restore balance to wolf numbers. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these same groups are attacking the published delisting proposal.
(2) Games with Taxonomy
There is little that is new in the report from the independent review panel. In fact, the group spent most of their time rehashing a long-standing debate about how to categorize the different “breeds” of wolves in the United States. The group acknowledged this is a challenge given the high level of gene flow amongst different population of wolves.
The debate on genetics is a very common theme in endangered species advocacy. In fact, most geneticists acknowledge there are some biologists commonly referred to as “splitters.” Splitters go to great lengths to re-categorize regional wildlife populations either as new species or a new subspecies. Activists favor the splitter philosophy because it provides an excuse for listing existing populations of the same animal as new endangered species. By categorizing different regional populations as new species or subspecies, activists can argue that state wildlife management autonomy should be replaced with federally mandated wildlife regulatory control.
Under the Endangered Species Act, the “Best Available Science” is the standard for making a delisting determination. One of the panelists acknowledged, “I don’t think there is a glaring absence of the science that they looked at.” Another panelist indicated, “Science is always a moving target. USFWS has to make a decision at a given moment of time.” The bottom line is that the Service should follow its legal obligation to use available science rather than speculation, unproven theories or other unresolved issues at the time the decision is made.
(3) More of the Same
A new round of technicalities to derail wolf-delisting proposal is not surprising. However, it is a slippery slope for effective decision-making. This is one of the reasons that Congress intervened and delisted wolves through Congressional Action in 2010. The ESA delisting process had become ineffective for wolves because of repeated lawsuit. Delays in delisting meant states were hamstrung to protect declining ungulate species.
Many of these wolf lawsuits exploit technicalities under the Endangered Species Act. Theses lawsuits often attempt to move the goal posts for recovery under the guise of “science.” For example, in one lawsuit heard before Judge Molloy, lawyers for these same activist groups argued that the population objective for delisting should be moved from 300 wolves to 5,000 wolves. Not only was a population of 5,000 wolves unsustainable in the Northern Rockies (and likely unattainable), it would have had serious conservation consequences for other wildlife species.
It is not a surprise that activists groups are attempting to move the “recovery” goal posts again. This time, they are arguing that we should wait for new taxonomy theories to be resolved. Is this just another attempt to mandate radical expansion of wolf populations across America before delisting can occur?
These are the same tactics that have been utilized for over a decade to prevent the federal government of fulfilling its commitments to the states to delist wolves and restore state management authority. Keeping the long-standing commitments to delist is important to maintain the trust and support of states, sportsmen, ranchers and rural communities that support responsible and balanced restoration of endangered species. It is also critical step to ensure multi-species conservation.
(4) We need your help
At Big Game Forever we strive to provide you with timely news, accurate information and the tools to protect our rights as hunters. Abundant wild game populations on America’s public and private lands are worth protecting. Our rights as hunters are worth protecting.
There are two ways you can help:
(A) Please spread the word to the petition in support of state wolf management at http://biggameforever.org/ There are tens of millions of American Sportsmen. Working together is the best way to protect our wild game in America. Many of these activist organizations have been building grass roots networks for decades. They have tens of thousands of members who use grass roots pressure to advance their radical agenda. Let’s raise our collective voice about the importance of protecting wild game in America. By signing the petition at http://biggameforever.org/, you are joining a network of tens of thousands of sportsmen who support abundant wild game, balanced state management of wildlife and the rights as sportsmen.
(B) Stay tuned for coming action alerts as the nationwide wolf delisting continues to move through the political and legal process. We will need thousands of your emails, phone calls and support to ensure USFWS fulfills its longstanding commitment to restore state management authority over wolves. This is a critical step to the conservation and protection of moose, elk, deer and other species of wildlife in America.
Thank you for your support,
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
