Letter:
Range of the wolf
Re "Value of wolves: Feds must maintain some oversight" (Our View, June 11):
Although U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Director Daniel Ashe declared victory by stating "Wolves are recovered
and they are now in good hands," I share serious concerns with the 16
scientists with expertise in carnivore taxonomy and conservation biology
who believe delisting is terribly premature.
The feds are gauging gray wolf recovery solely
on the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes wolf populations. Under the
Endangered Species Act, it is obligated to recover an endangered species
across a "significant portion" of its historic range.
In recent years, wolves from Canada have
crossed into Maine and traveled miles south into the southern Rocky
Mountain states of Utah and Colorado. Wolf OR-7 became a media sensation
when he became the first wild wolf to enter California in more than 80
years.
By stripping federal protections from wolves
nationwide, these pioneers in historically occupied areas may never be
able to establish viable populations despite suitable habitat and
availability of prey.
Through the Endangered Species Act, our
country gave wolves a second chance. Second chances are rare. Should we
be willing to throw them away?
Maggie Howell
Danbury , Conn.
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