My Dearest Wildlife,
As I sit here and think of you, my heart is filled with the purest love. I have loved you since my childhood and that love has only grown stronger with time. You are my superheroes. Every member of the wildlife community, from majestic big cats to delicate butterflies, holds a unique and irreplaceable place in nature and in my heart.
For me, watching wildlife is like witnessing a work of art. It’s an incredible feeling to see you thriving in your natural habitat. All wildlife deserve to be wild and free, living according to nature’s rule. Your ability to experience various emotions, including joy, fear, and pain, is abundantly clear to me. I am committed to doing my part to ensure that you can live free from harm and unnecessary suffering caused by humans. You deserve to be protected and respected, and I am responsible for ensuring that you can thrive.
But, I cannot help but feel a heavy heart as I write this love letter to you. My heart aches with pain and sadness as I know that you suffer at the hands of humans despite my efforts to stop it. Each time I come across images of your broken bodies or hear stories of your homes being destroyed, another piece of my heart breaks. I understand what it’s like to lose a pack member due to hatred and ignorance. I can relate to the constant fear of hunters lurking around, never knowing whether you are truly safe in your own home. I apologize for the harm people have caused you for their entertainment. I’m sorry you’ve experienced uncertainty about whether or not you can live alongside us.
Please know that you are never alone, as I remain committed to building this community of people who care about wildlife and will do everything possible to protect you. We love you dearly, and would be incredibly lonely without you.
As advocates for wildlife, we will never turn away from our commitment to protect the natural world we live in. Even when faced with challenges, I lean into the love and passion you give me and carry on. All I want is for you to be treated with the dignity and kindness you deserve. Thank you for being a vital part of our world and teaching us so much about love, resilience, adaptability, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
Important Updates Ahead: Preparing for a month of proactive communication and advocacy alerts
Friends, hold on to your hats. This month is going to be a busy one for us, so we wanted to give you notice in advance. We will do our best to keep our communication relevant and concise, as there will be important opportunities for you to stay informed about urgent legislation and regulations.
We appreciate you howling back and taking every action you can as we work to keep you informed about important conservation issues as they come down the pike. Together, let’s make a difference for our wolves and other imperiled species. In the meantime, please spread the word, and engage others in the conversation to see if you can get ONE FRIEND to sign up for our newsletter!
The USFWS recently made changes to the protection status of gray wolves in different regions. While Great Lakes wolves will continue to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves in the Northern Rockies region will no longer receive protection or be relisted.
We firmly support the advocates who are fighting against the decision to remove protection from gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. The state’s current wolf plan allows for the killing of wolves without valid reasons, which we believe is unjust and dangerous. Moreover, it violates the will of the public.
To solve the problem of harmful state regulations and safeguard the gray wolf species, implementing a National Recovery Plan could be helpful. However, it may take a considerable amount of time to implement such a plan, putting the wolves at risk of unnecessary harm.
It is important to acknowledge that 92% of wolves coexist with humans without conflict and do not need to be hunted for purpose or pleasure. It is also essential to note that current management plans in nearly all the states where wolves live disregard science and public opinion that favors wolves. Implementing a National Recovery Plan could solve this problem, but it may take a lot of time, putting all of the lower 48 wolves at risk. Therefore, we must take all actions seriously and continue working relentlessly to protect wolves.
Exciting News! USFWS Proposes to Protect Native Carnivores on National Wildlife Refuges
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing a rule that would ban predator control on the National Wildlife Refuge System. This rule would provide wildlife refuge managers better science-based tools to address climate change, biodiversity loss, promote wildlife conservation and align with the federal docket.
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance is in full support of these proposed revisions as Wisconsin is home to 668 native vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This would be a huge victory for countless wildlife. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your say in shaping the future by submitting your comments at the federal docket. The deadline for submission is March 4, 2024.
We admire wolves for their resilience and self-care practices, which include staying hydrated, getting enough rest, eating well, and conserving energy for future challenges.
By taking care of ourselves and relying on others, we can develop greater resilience and become more capable of facing any obstacle acknowledge the importance of the work you do and the difficulties that arise in your efforts. We are committed to your success and the advancement of changing policies and laws that harm wildlife and the wild places we love.
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance cares. Whether you seek balance in your life, self-care tools, strategies to help animals, or simply connection with like-minded individuals.
While we set this up, please visit the “Get Involved” page on our website below for more information on scheduling one-on-one meetings with Executive Director, Melissa Smith, our Advocacy Calendar of upcoming events and so much more!
Looking for more ways you can help great lakes wolves and wildlife? Explore the resources on our website to learn how you can get more involved!
FEBRUARY FIRESIDE CHAT
Thursday, February 22nd @ 6:00 PM
Current Events, Legislation and Advocacy Updates
wiwolvesandwildlife.org 