SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Wolf advocates will hold a rally and hearing Thursday in Sacramento to give members of the public a chance to comment on the Trump administration’s proposal to end federal protection for nearly all wolves in the lower 48 states.
The Trump administration released its proposal in March but has refused to schedule any hearings to accept public comment on the topic. Instead, conservation groups have organized hearings to accept public comment in Sacramento, Portland, Ore. and Denver, Colo.
Written comments are due May 14. Verbal comments from Thursday’s event will be transcribed so they can be submitted into the official record with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Thursday’s hearing will be preceded by a rally for wolves featuring advocates in wolf masks and speakers.
What: A rally for wolves followed by a chance for the public to provide verbal testimony on the Trump administration’s plan to end federal wolf protection
When: Thursday, May 2, rally at 5 p.m., public hearing at 6 p.m.
Where: Grand Hall of the Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816
Media availability: Wolf advocates and conservation groups will be on hand to speak to the media before, during and after the event.
“The future of America’s wolves is being decided right now, and the public has a right to be heard,” said Ash Lauth of the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s heartless and utterly shortsighted to pull the plug on wolf recovery. This is the moment to speak out.”
Background
On March 6 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to strip gray wolves of Endangered Species Act protection across the lower 48 states. If finalized the proposal will allow trophy hunting and trapping of wolves in some areas and essentially end recovery of wolves in the United States.
The proposal would remove federal protection from all gray wolves, with the exception of Mexican gray wolves, which are listed separately under the Endangered Species Act.
The proposal will also all but ensure that wolves are not allowed to recover in the Adirondacks, southern Rockies and elsewhere that scientists have identified as suitable habitat.