There is currently a proposal by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to delist wolves across the lower 48 states from the Endangered Species Act protections they currently receive. Defenders of Wildlife created a two minute video illustrating the history of America’s wolves and the challenges they could face if the proposal is passed.
I can speak from firsthand experience on the Turner lands that wolves are important to the balance in the ecosystem. We have over 30 wolves on the Flying D Ranch outside of Bozeman, Montana. Last year, we took a Turner Foundation retreat to the ranch to observe the wolves. Spending time observing them in the wild for the first time was one of my life’s most magical experiences. A real “ah-ha” moment for me and the others who were with me. I was a fan of wolves before, but I cannot express my conviction deeply enough to save them, now that I have witnessed firsthand their magnificence and vulnerability. I am convinced more than ever they are an important part of God’s creation.
For more information and details on the important role the American wolf plays in our natural systems, please head over to the Defense of Wildlife’s recently updated Places for Wolves report. In it, DOW lays the foundation for their wolf recovery and restoration goals by outlining the ecological, ethical, cultural and economic importance of wolves. It also highlights Defenders’ successful efforts to promote wolf recovery, including their Wood River Wolf Coexistence Project and partnership with the White Mountain Apache tribe.