Summer 2o13 Volume Thirteen Number One Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans. I congratulate the 93d Congress for taking this important step toward protecting a heritage which we hold in trust to countless future generations of our fellow citizens. Their lives will be richer, and America will be more beautiful in the years ahead, thanks to the measure that I have the pleasure of signing into law today. Atka in the House... contributed to the persuasive case each made to their elected leaders as to why protecting and recovering endangered wildlife is a value shared by all Americans. After an overview of the current status of wildlife appropriations, we reviewed crucial programs that support wildlife and habitat conservation within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. Several Defenders of Wildlife staffers delivered compelling and educational presentations about the severe cuts that threaten many federal...the House of Representatives that is. wildlife and habitat conservation programs. We then split into teams and were assigned Sherpas to help us navigate the halls of Congress. I was paired with a fascinating fellow the former Chair of the American Continued on page 4 President Richard M. Nixon Statement on Signing the Endangered Species Act December 28, 1973 This past May, I was honored to be one of over 3o citizen-advocates invited to Washington, DC by the Defenders of Wildlife. We came from 17 different states, but we had a shared mission: to lobby Congress to speed the recovery of endangered wildlife and to kick off the Defenders exciting new grassroots campaign Conservation Crossroads: Extinction or Recovery? My fellow participants, hailed from all walks of life including hunters, photographers, bird watchers, veterans, wildlife lovers, priests and business owners. It was clear that each participant s unique background Rebecca Bose and Atka with Congressman Mike Thompson (D) of California
WCC Mexican Wolf Trip WCC staff kept a close eye on Mexican gray wolves F749 and M8o4 this spring, suspecting that the genetically vital pair had successfully bred. Our hunch proved true, as F749 gave birth to two healthy male pups in early May. However, sometimes good species stewardship makes for difficult choices: Since F749 had only successfully raised 2 of her last 19 pups, the managers of the Federal Species Survival Plan for this critically endangered species determined that any new pups would be removed to another facility where they could be hand-reared by humans before being placed with foster Mexican wolf parents who have had prior success in raising pups. With hearts heavy for the parents but hopeful for the future of the species, we sent the pups on to their new home, as depicted in the photos below. Finger-licking good! Arriving at the airport in Atka's Toyota. Blind and deaf, the newborns are completely helpless. All comfortable during the trip to Sikorsky Memorial Airport. Q&A with Maggie Howell re: Mexican wolf pups Why were the pups taken away? These pups were the offspring of two Mexican gray wolves the WCC cares for under the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for this critically endangered species. The mother had lost 17 of her last 19 pups, so the WCC and the SSP managers determined it was best for the pups to be raised by human surrogates with the help of experienced wolf parents. Why couldn t they be raised at the WCC? To best ensure the pups survival, the pups should be fostered with a pair of Mexican wolves that have successfully raised pups together. The WCC does not currently house such a pair. Rebecca Bose, the WCC curator, peeks into the den. Success! After an initial muddy exploration, Bose adjusts her headlamp and prepares to crawl back in. Committed to the job! Rebecca and Lighthawk pilot James P. Houser Jr. on the tarmac. Why let the parents breed if they pups will be taken away? Maintaining genetic diversity is crucial to the survival of the species and the breeding pair is one of the most genetically diverse Mexican gray wolf couples possible. So if the offspring survive they will greatly improve the existing gene pool and the chances for a healthy Mexican gray wolf population. Ready for take off! Could you have let the parents keep a pup? Even if a bigger litter had been born we would not be able to leave any pups with the parents. We asked to, but the SSP required all the pups be removed. Had we not complied, we would have had to leave the SSP program, which would mean surrendering the pups anyway, as they belong to the federal government not to us. We also would have had to give up our other 12 Mexican gray wolves, who would have to be removed and transported to other facilities where they almost certainly would not have as much space and privacy. The littlest lobo! The tiny pups were immediately brought inside. Leaving the northeast for their new home in Indiana. Do the parents mourn after losing their pups? The parents probably do experience some feeling of loss or at least emotional distress. Obviously we would have liked to avoid that, but the decision was out of our hands. However, losing pups to a variety of causes is natural in the wolf world and we are confident that it is something that the wolves get over, probably a lot quicker than humans do because it s a survival imperative. We monitor the parents activities and are happy to report that they currently show no signs of stress. Will the parents be allowed to breed again? It will be our recommendation that F749 is spayed. This measure will benefit her health and gives the Mexican wolf SSP an opportunity to conserve the her remaining viable eggs for future use in the Mexican wolf in vitro fertilization program. Bose examined and weighed the pups. 1.4lbs - a healthy 1 day old pup. The pups were fed some Esbilac, a puppy formula. Flying off to help make a better future for Mexican gray wolves. What is Lighthawk? Lighhawk is a volunteer-based environmental aviation organization that donates flights to conservation groups. www.nywolf.org www.nywolf.org
Wolf Conservation Center P.O. Box 421 South Salem, NY 1o59o-1123 Non-profit Org. U.S.Postage PAID Permit No. 9oo3 White Plains, N.Y. 1o61o Atka in the House Continued from page 1 Bird Conservancy, and together with our Sherpa, Robert Dewey, we prepped for our mission. Our team was the busiest of the bunch, as Dewey had scheduled seven meetings with representatives from both New York and Connecticut. You Know it Don t Come ESA During all the meetings, my focused message was the profound importance of keeping the Endangered Species Act (ESA) strong. The ESA is our nation s cornerstone environmental law. It has helped prevent the extinction of such treasured wildlife icons as the bald eagle, Florida manatee, and California condor. It exists because concerned citizens and a bi-partisan Congress almost 4o years ago had a vision of responsible stewardship of the Earth. Thanks to the ESA, the reintroduction of wolves to our nation s landscape has helped to restore vital ecological processes and continues to impact our environment in positive ways scientists are only now beginning to realize. At the same time, I also emphasized to our representatives that wildlife and its habitat are valuable national assets. Wildlife-related recreation is $122 billion a year industry. Yellowstone s wolves Defenders of Wildlife s Conservation Crossroads initiative is a call to action for the 21th century s environmental challenges. Just a few of the campaign s aims are: Supporting policies to combat climate change; Fighting attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act; Educating key decision-makers on how to renew the nation s commitment to imperiled wildlife. Rebecca Bose and Atka with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) of Michigan alone bring an estimated $35 million in annual tourist revenue. Once our marathon day of meetings was over, we gathered with volunteers, congressional staff, and other guests to recap the day and celebrate 4o years of the ESA. We were joined by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jim Moran (D-VA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and one of the original authors of the ESA, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). Each of them talked about the great accomplishments of the ESA and the importance of protecting it against legislative attempts to undermine it. A Lobo in the Lobby As impassioned as each speech was, a very special keynote guest in a light gray suit had an impact that trumped all others. Our own Atka made the trip to thank this empowered group of citizenadvocates and to encourage those on Hill to become champions for his wild kin. The Capitol was abuzz and Atka drew an impressive crowd! (As usual.) Instead of us lobbyists being flustered by the VIPs, it was Reps Fitzpatrick, Thompson, and Rebecca Bose and Atka with Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R) of Pennsylvania Senator Stabenow who were giddy about getting a chance to pose with our notable Ambassador. It was an educational experience that I would welcome repeating, and I believe that our personal stories will have a positive impact on the future of our nation s natural treasures. Do you have a story you would like to share with your representative? Visit http://www.senate.gov/ to contact your Senator and http://www.house.gov/ to contact you Congressperson. Please remember that we all have a voice and the right to use it in order to safeguard our planet for generations to come. Contributors: Bob Callahan Laurie Campbell Andrew Dieckman Maggie Howell Josh Lewis Bradley Orsted Printed on post-consumer recycled paper.
Greetings from the WCC Staff & Board! The first half of 2o13 has gotten off to a great start for the WCC with the birth of rare Mexican gray wolf pups, outstanding program attendance, and creative collaboration with other organizations to advocate for the long-term recovery of wolves in North America. But the plight of wild wolves remains precarious so the fight to preserve this important keystone species goes on. We couldn t do it without your help, so thank you again from all of us at the Wolf Conservation Center! Collecting for Carnivores We all know that the 3 R s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) can help make the world a better place. But did you know that that third r can also directly benefit the WCC? Thanks to the free Collecting for Carnivores program, your trash may be our cash! Anybody (individuals, businesses, community groups, etc.) can participate; it s free and easy! If you enroll with us, you ll be sent shipping materials and prepaid postage for mailing used/broken electronic equipment (toner cartridges, cell phones, etc.) to a recycling center. The WCC receives cash for certain types of items, but even if the item doesn t qualify, it still gets recycled which makes us very happy! In just a few short months our supporters have recycled hundreds of pounds of equipment, raising hundreds of dollars for the WCC! If you want to participate or know of somebody who might, please contact us at spencer@nywolf.org or 914-763-2373 x2. For more details about the program, visit our website here: http://nywolf.org/supportus/collecting-for-carnivores
Four Decades of Wolf Protection Slated to End On June 11, 2o13, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its intention to delist the grey wolf (canis lupus) from the endangered species list in all the lower 48 states, with the exception of the small Mexican wolf recovery effort in the Southwest. This unfortunate decision reverses 4o years of protection for this magnificent animal and risks giving back progress that has been hailed as one of the most successful programs ever implemented under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The WCC feels that the delisting rule is terribly premature. USFWS is measuring gray wolf recovery solely on the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes wolf populations. But under the ESA, the USFWS is obligated to recover endangered species across a significant portion of their historic range. Retaining ESA protections would help wolves self colonize wide areas of suitable habitat without expensive breeding or resettlement efforts. Their success in doing so could make wolf recovery more robust, self sustaining and genetically diverse. We are seeing signs that this is happening already, including reports of wolves from Canada crossing the frozen St. Lawrence Seaway into Maine and others travelling miles south into the southern Rocky Mountain states of Utah and Colorado. Thrillingly, one wolf, OR-7, becoming a media sensation when he became the first wild wolf to enter California in over 8o years. By stripping federal protections from wolves nationwide, these pioneers on the West Coast and in other historically occupied areas like the southern Rockies and Northeast, may never be able to establish viable populations despite suitable habitat and available prey. Will History Repeat Itself? Wolves have been in the cross-hairs before. Gray wolves were persecuted so heavily in the past that by the mid-19oo s, most lands in the lower 48 were emptied of their top predator. With the support of the American public and the ESA, however, the wolf was able to return to portions of its native range. In areas where wolves were restored, like the northern Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes states, scientists have noted more diverse plant and wildlife thriving where they had been suppressed for decades. The ESA gave wolves and balanced ecosystems a hard-won second chance. Should we be willing to throw it away? States Dismal Record If more-recent history is an indication of what will happen now that all protections have been removed, US wolves face a grim future. Wolves have been under state management in Idaho and Montana since 2o11 and in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming since 2o12, when their populations were deemed strong enough to be removed from ESA protection. Since assuming responsibility for their wolf populations, each of these states has resumed widespread hunting except Michigan, which has plans to start this fall. The result? An estimated 1,1oo wolves have been killed in the northern Rockies states in less than two years. This is responsibility? Next Steps to Act for America s Wolves The USFWS s delisting proposal will be open for public comment through September 11, 2o13. Please visit http://bit.ly/escwolves to submit all comments. Other effective ways to voice your concerns: Contact your members in the House of Representatives and Senate E-mail Secretary Sally Jewell So frequently playing a fearsome role in our myth and legend, Wolves inspire more than their fair share of emotion given that this reticent prowler actually shows so little interest in our affairs. Unfortunately, their survival hinges on our collective interest in theirs. If we want to continue to be awed by the beauty and taken aback by their obvious intelligence, we must remain vigilant in looking out for their welfare. The states, with their grim record of stewardship, do not appear up to this task.