Protecting Alaskan Gray Wolves and the Protect America's Wildlife Act (PAW)

As a longtime defender of wolves, other wildlife and environmental protection, I support the ongoing efforts of the Defenders of Wildlife non-profit organization. Defenders of Wildlife was founded in 1947 and is one of the country’s leaders in science-based, results-oriented wildlife conservation. They have been voted one of the nation’s top non-profits. Their mission is to save imperiled wildlife and advocating the landmark Endangered Species Act, remaining dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. One of their goals is to ensure that science, not politics, guides decision-making about the future of wolves.

In these difficult economic times, there are still ways to assist Defenders of Wildlife, even if you don’t have the monetary resources to contribute. Regardless of your political affiliation, if you favor the protection of wolves and other wildlife, you can take action by calling or writing your local or state representatives to urge them to vote to pass laws to either introduce or reinstate protection of these animals. Defenders of Wildlife makes it easy to forward template letters (which you have the option to customize), to the appropriate parties. I know it works since I’ve received email responses from my local and state representatives after their office received petitions and letters that I’ve sent.

The greatest population of gray wolves is in Alaska. Currently, there are reinstated laws that allow the brutal hunting of these animals mainly by aerial gunning from a plane or helicopter. Wolves are chased to exhaustion for several miles until the hunter can kill them at point-blank range. On three separate occasions, Alaskans voted on this issue. On August 28, 2008, over 70,000 turned out to vote in order to end private aerial hunting of wolves as well as bears and to limit the practice to be conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, if needed. Unfortunately, the ballot was defeated so the next step is to pass the Protect America’s Wildlife Act (PAW).

In these difficult economic times, there are still ways to assist Defenders of Wildlife, even if you don’t have the monetary resources to contribute. Regardless of your political affiliation, if you favor the protection of wolves and other wildlife, you can take action by calling or writing your local or state representatives to urge them to vote and pass laws either introducing or reinstating protection of these animals. Defenders of Wildlife makes it easy to forward template letters (which you have the option to customize), to the appropriate parties. I know it works since I’ve received email responses from my local and state representatives after their office received petitions and letters that I’ve signed.

You can visit the Defenders of Wildlife website to take action and notify your state representative to cosponsor H.R. 3663, the Protect America's Wildlife (PAW) Act, introduced by Rep. George Miller. The PAW Act would end needless and cruel aerial hunting of wolves and other wildlife by closing a loophole in the Federal Airborne Hunting Act of 1972.