Envisioning a path forward for wolf recovery this Wolf Awareness Week.
Writing the next chapter in wolf recovery. By the mid-1930s, after decades of intolerance and unchecked killing, wolves were eradicated from all but a few areas in the lower 48 states.
It seemed like the end was inevitable for wolves on the landscape in the lower 48.
But Defenders has always been a champion for wolves and we weren’t going to let that be the end of the story.
Red Wolf (c) Jeff Goulden/iStock
Gray Wolf (c) Ronald W Jansen/iStock
Mexican Gray Wolf (c) G Nagel/istock
We’ve had successes. But the greatest threat to wolves remains the same as it did from the start of their persecution all those years ago – humankind.
With the growing populations of wolves on our landscape, the threat of their coming into contact with communities increases every day.
That is why Defenders is determined to help the public share the land with wolves and dispel the myths and misconceptions that nearly silenced them for good. This is the very center of our coexistence work - and it’s the key to creating a future for wolves and other wildlife.
Image credit: Hilary Cooley
Tell the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement Shut Down this Illegal Wolf Fur Farm
When you visit a petting zoo — or any facility that claims to promote conservation education — you expect that the animals will be well cared for and live long, happy lives.
That's not the kind of place that Lakeville, Minnesota's Fur-Ever Wild is — at least not according to animal rights advocates. They say that animals at the facility — including endangered gray wolves pups — languish in inadequate conditions and are killed for their pelts when they are too big to be visited by tourists at Fur-Ever Wild's petting zoo.
But what Fur-Ever Wild is doing isn't just cruel — it's also illegal. The Endangered Species Act expressly prohibits facilities like Fur-Ever Wild from slaughtering rare species like the iconic gray wolf for commercial gain.
It's high time this awful place be shut down. That's why we're calling on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement to do its job and investigate Fur-Ever Wild for violating the Endangered Species Act.
If enough of us speak out, we can end the terrible wolf killings at Fur-Ever Wild. Please sign the petition now to help us win!
It seemed like the end was inevitable for wolves on the landscape in the lower 48.
But Defenders has always been a champion for wolves and we weren’t going to let that be the end of the story.
We’ve had successes. But the greatest threat to wolves remains the same as it did from the start of their persecution all those years ago – humankind.
With the growing populations of wolves on our landscape, the threat of their coming into contact with communities increases every day.
That is why Defenders is determined to help the public share the land with wolves and dispel the myths and misconceptions that nearly silenced them for good. This is the very center of our coexistence work - and it’s the key to creating a future for wolves and other wildlife.
Tell the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement Shut Down this Illegal Wolf Fur Farm
When you visit a petting zoo — or any facility that claims to promote conservation education — you expect that the animals will be well cared for and live long, happy lives.
That's not the kind of place that Lakeville, Minnesota's Fur-Ever Wild is — at least not according to animal rights advocates. They say that animals at the facility — including endangered gray wolves pups — languish in inadequate conditions and are killed for their pelts when they are too big to be visited by tourists at Fur-Ever Wild's petting zoo.
But what Fur-Ever Wild is doing isn't just cruel — it's also illegal. The Endangered Species Act expressly prohibits facilities like Fur-Ever Wild from slaughtering rare species like the iconic gray wolf for commercial gain.
It's high time this awful place be shut down. That's why we're calling on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement to do its job and investigate Fur-Ever Wild for violating the Endangered Species Act.
If enough of us speak out, we can end the terrible wolf killings at Fur-Ever Wild. Please sign the petition now to help us win!
Over
the years, we’ve made great strides and, as a result of our tireless efforts,
wolf recovery is working. Wolves are now living in areas where
they were once wiped out – places like Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico
and California.
But
turning back the clock on the devastation of wolves in this country isn’t as
simple as reintroducing wolves to the wild.
Right
now, wolves and other recovering wildlife are at a critical crossroads. The
growth and expansion of wildlife populations into new territories means they are
coming into contact with humans more often. And if history is any guide, contact
means conflict. That is where our pioneering coexistence efforts come in.
Our
coexistence work is at a pivotal point.
In
order to achieve lasting success for wolves, we must change people’s hearts and
minds about these iconic predators.
Defenders’
pioneering coexistence work has improved relationships with landowners and
fostered partnerships with the federal government and state and local
decisionmakers to advance recovery.
We
have known since day one that reducing conflicts between wolves and people is
key to long-term wolf recovery. And that long-term vision is what sets
us apart.
The
life of every wolf is precious, yet as wolf populations continue to grow, our
focus must shift to be more about the survival of the species as a whole –
especially as interactions with humans increase.
We
can’t afford to be short-sighted. If we’re not coexisting with wildlife
then we’re condemning wildlife.
