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News from SWEC

Wolves need a few letters to the Editor

Many of you may have seen the recently published Associated Press article on wolves, which has some very unfortunate and misleading statements.  It is doubly unfortunate that the articles has been picked up by regional and local papers (e.g. the LA Times <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-endangered-wolf,0,2370174.story>  among others).  We need people to write letters to the editor helping to shift the discussion around the article.  If enough people write in, we can turn this into an opportunity to highlight the importance of wolves in the Southwest and the need for a revamped recovery plan from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Some talking points to emphasize:
There are only 52 Mexican Gray Wolves left in the wild, making it the most endangered mammal in North America.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is operating under a flawed 28-year old recovery plan that does not include recovery criteria, does not incorporate modern science, and has done little to protect the Mexican Wolf.
It’s time for a new, modern Recovery Plan that will bring Mexican Wolves back from the brink of extinction and restore a healthy wild wolf population.
Some other points to make:
Wolves are beautiful animals that belong in Nature.
Wolves are a benefit to the West.
Wildlife biologists believe that once they are fully restored, Mexican wolves will improve the overall health of southwest ecosystems – just as the return of gray wolves has resulted in numerous positive changes in Yellowstone National Park.
Wolves have done what’s needed to survive in the wild: they have formed packs, had pups and successfully hunted native prey.
You don’t have to be an expert or write a lengthy letter. Shorter is better! Most newspapers have word limits that are surprisingly short.  Here’s a sample letter:

Dear Editor,

I’m responding to the recent AP article about Mexican gray wolves. According to the latest population count, there are only 52 Mexican wolves in the wild, making it the most endangered mammal in North America. This isn’t surprising when you consider the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is relying on a recovery plan developed 28 years ago that lacks modern science and simple recovery criteria.

Wolves have done what’s needed to survive in the wild. They’ve formed packs, had pups and successfully hunted native prey. But they need our help to get more than a toehold in the wilds of the Southwest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can help them by developing a modern recovery plan that uses the best available science and prioritizes wolf recovery.

Sincerely,
John Doe

A few regional editorial contacts:
Las Cruces Sun-News letters@lcsun-news.com
Silver City Sun News hwise@scsun-news.com
Las Cruces Bulletin <http://www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/index.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin&amp;pageToLoad=e_lettertoeditor.php&amp;nav=letter&amp;curDate=20091204>

Albuquerque Journal <http://www.abqjournal.com/letters/new>

Thank you for taking this important action today! Go to http://www.mexicanwolves.org/index.php?page=letters-to-editors for more tips and contact information for newspapers.  Also feel free to get in touch with Paul <mailto:paul@wildmesquite.org> if you would like some help crafting your letter.

Looking for “Green” gift ideas

If you would like to avoid some of the usual rampant consumerism of the holiday season, here are some ways to shop while supporting SWEC and other good causes at the same time:
Raffle ticket for a new 2010 Toyota Prius. We’re only selling 400 tickets at $100 each. The drawing will be held on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. Proceeds go to support SWEC’s conservation work. Tickets are available at the Center.

Beautiful Mexican folk art and other unique items at SWEC’s Ecoshop. Proceeds support SWEC and the Voces Indigenous Foundation that helps indigenous groups in Mexico.

iGive.com <http://www.igive.com/welcome/index.cfm> . Use this website to shop at hundreds of major online retailers, including Best Buy, Ebay, Expedia, Apple iTunes, Priceline, Sierra Trading Post, and many more. It doesn’t cost you anything, and SWEC receives a percentage of your purchases as a donation. Just go to iGive.com <http://www.igive.com/welcome/index.cfm>  and choose the Southwest Environmental Center as your favorite cause.
For more info, call (575) 522-5552.
–
Kevin Bixby, Executive Director

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