To the editor [of the Arizona Daily Sun]:
Thank you for your editorial, “Denying federal authority costly, inconsistent.” I find the anti-government legislative posturing described therein outrageous and am particularly disgusted by the bills to push critically endangered Mexican gray wolves closer to extinction.
These wolves, of whom only 37 remain in the wild in Arizona, are protected under federal law for good reasons. First, we have a moral obligation to protect and conserve our native wildlife, including beautiful keystone carnivores like wolves. Second, wolves have been shown time and again to restore the health of the lands they inhabit in large enough numbers to have an effect. And last, but not least, once restored, Mexican wolves can bring tremendous economic benefits as has happened in Yellowstone, where studies found that wolf tourism contributed roughly $35.5 million annually to the regional economy.
Livestock interests have a responsibility to share the public lands where they exercise grazing privileges with native wildlife by using non-lethal deterrents. And the Arizona Legislature has a responsibility not to waste time and taxpayer money on illegal, immoral bills that embarrass our state and encourage people to violate federal laws by killing endangered wildlife.
I hope my fellow citizens will join me in urging their legislators to oppose this nonsense. Mexicanwolves.org has more information.
Roxane George
Flagstaff
source
Thank you for your editorial, “Denying federal authority costly, inconsistent.” I find the anti-government legislative posturing described therein outrageous and am particularly disgusted by the bills to push critically endangered Mexican gray wolves closer to extinction.
These wolves, of whom only 37 remain in the wild in Arizona, are protected under federal law for good reasons. First, we have a moral obligation to protect and conserve our native wildlife, including beautiful keystone carnivores like wolves. Second, wolves have been shown time and again to restore the health of the lands they inhabit in large enough numbers to have an effect. And last, but not least, once restored, Mexican wolves can bring tremendous economic benefits as has happened in Yellowstone, where studies found that wolf tourism contributed roughly $35.5 million annually to the regional economy.
Livestock interests have a responsibility to share the public lands where they exercise grazing privileges with native wildlife by using non-lethal deterrents. And the Arizona Legislature has a responsibility not to waste time and taxpayer money on illegal, immoral bills that embarrass our state and encourage people to violate federal laws by killing endangered wildlife.
I hope my fellow citizens will join me in urging their legislators to oppose this nonsense. Mexicanwolves.org has more information.
Roxane George
Flagstaff
source
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