Kill Proposal, Not Wildlife

ABQjournal: Kill Proposal, Not Wildlife By David Parsons And Stephen Capra, Conservation Advocates

Imagine lying in a pristine mountain meadow in your favorite wilderness area enjoying the peace and tranquility of wild nature when a helicopter swoops low, and a gunner hanging out of the open door blasts a coyote. Far fetched? Not if this proposed rule is adopted!

[The recently proposed U.S. Forest Service rule that would allow for the expanded trapping, poisoning and aerial gunning of bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, wolves and other animals in federally designated wilderness areas and research natural areas. The plan, open to public comment through Sept. 5, is morally perverse and biologically unsound.]

Decision authority for killing predators and the use of motorized equipment in wilderness areas would be delegated to ill-defined local collaborative groups. …

The authority for making such decisions is properly placed at the Regional Forester level to minimize such exceptions. Such decisions should not be delegated to some local group that could be stacked in favor of interests that are opposed to wilderness and nature protection. …

The proposed policy changes are philosophically and legally incompatible with the purposes of the Wilderness Act to preserve and protect lands in the National Wilderness Preservation System in their “natural condition.” …

We are astonished that the U.S. Forest Service considers this proposal to be appropriate and consistent with the purposes of the Wilderness Act.

This proposal is not supported by science; rather, it appears to be politically driven and designed to appease and benefit select interests. This is not in the best interest of our National Forests or the American people who love and respect wild lands and wild nature.