Incrementalism is a word that many of us use to describe the tiny little steps environmentalists take to achieve their agenda goals. They may realize that taking large chunks receive too much opposition but tiny steps don’t appear so intrusive and as such people tend to “let things slide”.

Back last March, 2009, I told readers about efforts by a handful of people to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wolves and coyotes in the Northeast Region. The request essentially asked the USFWS to do three things: 1. Create a Distinct Population Segment for gray wolves in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts, ; 2. Design and implement a Northeastern Gray Wolf Recovery Plan, and; 3. Regulate the commerce or taking, and treat as endangered species in the States of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts, coyotes (Canis latrans), coyote/gray wolf hybrids (Canis latrans x Canis lupus), eastern wolves (Canis lycaon), eastern wolf/gray wolf hybrids (Canis lycaon x Canis lupus), coyote/eastern wolf hybrids (Canis latrans x Canis lycaon), and coyote/eastern wolf/gray wolf hybrids (Canis latrans x Canis lycaon x Canis lupus) because of their close resemblance to the federally endangered and protected gray wolf.

According to a 90-day finding on the request, the USFWS states that requesting a wolf management plan and to regulate the commerce of taking coyotes, wolves, etc. are not petitionable items under the Endangered Species Act. As the petition pertains to the creation of a Distinct Population Segment of gray wolves, the USFWS responded accordingly:

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in five northeastern States as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing a DPS of the gray wolf in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may be warranted. Therefore, we will not initiate a further status review in response to this petition. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time, any new information that becomes available concerning the presence of the gray wolf in the northeastern United States, particularly information to substantiate the presence of breeding pairs.

The petitioners have an agenda and as we have been witness to for years, they are attempting to abuse and manipulate an outdated and poorly written Endangered Species Act to put a stop to all hunting and trapping disguised as protecting animals. While the USFWS for now says that no DPS will be created, they have left the door open and are asking people to notify them about findings of gray wolves, etc. Just being witness to this nonsense makes one seriously ask why they would at all be interested in helping in the discovery of gray wolves in their area. When we see the destruction of private property, including the slaughter of livestock and other domestic animals, along with a stripping away of property and property rights, caused as a result of protecting these critters, it’s ridiculous for anyone to consider inviting the federal government in to further control their lives and destroy the wildlife ecosystems we have now.

Think about it!

Tom Remington

Related Posts