We interrupt our regularly scheduled rant against hunters, trappers and wolf-haters to bring you some good news for Michigan wolves–just in time for Easter Sunday…
from Keep Michigan Wolves Protected:
253,705 Signatures Submitted to Place Wolf Hunting Referendum on 2014 Ballot
More than 2,000 Michigan volunteers rallied to gather signatures in 67-day period
LANSING, Mich. – Keep Michigan Wolves Protected submitted 253,705 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, that, when certified, will place any plans for a wolf hunting season on hold until Michigan voters decide the issue at the ballot box in November 2014. During a short 67-day period, the coalition far surpassed the 161,305 valid signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
“The public response over the past few months has been tremendous, and it demonstrates that Michigan voters in every corner of the state oppose the pointless trophy hunting of wolves,” said Jill Fritz, director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected. “Mounting a petition drive in the dead of winter and collecting a quarter of a million signatures in 67 days has been a monumental feat. We look forward to giving Michigan voters—not the politicians—the opportunity to decide whether to keep wolves protected or to allow sport hunting and trapping of these rare creatures just beginning to recover from the brink of extinction.”
Across the entire state, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders have spoken with their pens to tell legislators that they were wrong in approving a wolf hunting bill last December.
More than 2,000 Michigan residents volunteered for Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, a coalition of animal welfare groups, conservationists, veterinarians, Native American tribes and faith leaders — to gather signatures during sub-freezing temperatures. The volunteers participated in more than 700 events statewide, most of them outdoors.
By the time Keep Michigan Wolves Protected received approval for the wording by the Board of State Canvassers and printed petitions, the 90-day petition period prescribed by law had dwindled down to only 67 days to complete the task. The most common response heard by signature gatherers — whether they were in Houghton, Marquette, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Petoskey or Lansing — was “Thank you for being here and speaking up for our wolves.”
Once submitted, the Board of State Canvassers has 60 days, with an option of 15 additional days, to determine if the petitions contain enough valid signatures. If so, implementation of Public Act 520, the wolf hunting law, will be suspended pending the outcome of the November 2014 vote.
Wolves have been protected in Michigan for almost 50 years after being hunted to the brink of extinction. After more than four decades of protection, there are fewer than 700 wolves in Michigan. Despite the wolf population’s fragile status, the Michigan legislature rushed a bill through last year’s session authorizing a sport hunting season for wolves – opening the door to the same practices that virtually eradicated their population in the first place.
It’s already legal in Michigan to kill wolves in order to protect livestock or dogs, making a sport hunting and trapping season unnecessary. People don’t eat wolves, and it’s just pointless trophy hunting for no good purpose. Wolf hunting may involve especially cruel and unfair practices, such as painful steel-jawed leghold traps, hunting over bait, and even using packs of dogs to chase down and kill wolves.
Michigan residents interested in volunteering, donating or learning more about the issue can visit KeepWolvesProtected.com.
And you can vote for wolves in this LA Times poll here:
Exposing the Big Game 
Politics of Wolf Protection:
I expected Obama; I am generally a staunch supporter, to be weak on wildlife and wilderness. I have the courage to say it: He is an urban black man and cannot relate. He delegated on this issue, unfortunately to wolf enemies in Secretary of Interior Salazar and MT-WY-ID-WI politicians. He is missing an opportunity for a lasting legacy, and that is in preserving wildlife, including the apex predators, and the last 1-2% of true wilderness.
However, it is republicans lining up almost like a solid wall against wolves and that makes sense from their values perspectives: states over federal government, business over environment and wilderness, republican politics over doing the right thing, no perspective on lasting legacy, protect the status quo, republican rancher, republican yokel, rancher, sportsmen, trapper, western state wildlife agency, western governors and legislatures…
There seems to be a general disconnect in seeing that Fido is cousin to gray wolf. They can breed and offspring are fertile, so a lot closer than cousins. Anti-wolfers seem to have trouble relating to other sentient beings in general, something is missing in them.
I believe 100% that preserving wolves and other predators and the wilderness is far more important than temporary jobs and recreational opportunities in wilderness areas, but wilderness is not on Obama’s team radar, and republicans are seizing the opportunity; which means Obama team, and democrats are missing an opportunity for true legacy. The republicans just represent on-going, traditional from the dawn of so-called civilization onward, war on wildlife, flora and fauna. Their attitudes, values, beliefs are provincial, ignorant, lacking in large perspective, destructive, and will likely destroy the last vestiges of true wilderness. But we can make an honorable fight, an honorable stand.
We, wolf supporters and wilderness guardians, need to put this issue on Obama’s radar by generating popular and congressional support. He has political opportunity here and democrats but do not see it: That is our job.
I completely agree with your statement of the politics evident on the animal issues with Obama for the exact reasons you have stated, and the Republicans are lined up throwing R and L hooks at 360.. what I suggest that might be of better value is to target and connect with Biden, he has shown himself to more knowledgeable and better approachable on the animal issues. One thing I would like to add, is even though there is this disconnect with people over the wild dogs and the domestic dogs, making it extra difficult to grab the publics ADD issue, and even though most people think of their own pets as family members, we have not been able to accomplish a true No Kill policy in the shelters, it is an ongoing struggle. So if we cannot accomplish our domestic animal issue, makes it that much harder we have to fight for the Wildlife, but I believe, because of the internet, these campaigns are gaining ground like they never have before, so continue the fight these scum Rep. hard, they are the 1%., we can do it.
When it comes to No kill shelters what is worse,domestic animals dying in shelters or being rejected and thrown back onto the streets?If the shelters were no kill they just wouldn’t except any animals when the shelters filled up.We already know that there are some humans who can’t be trusted with the lives of animals.These vicious wolf hunters are a great example.
P.S. Go Michigan
Your political analysis of the current situation is right on the mark! Thanks for having the courage to state it.
Honey, the government does not scare me and they need to buck and realize that what they are doing is killing our earth and everyone in it!!!! But taking our wildlife first!!!! As long as I have a breath in me, I will fight for our Wolves and all wildlife!!!!!!
I have always been republican but support ANYONE who will support the wildlife!!! I am extremely dissapointed in the democrats about all of the issues of the earth!! Seems they do not care about anything but destroying our wonderful wildlife!!! Just makes me sick!! I am an animal advocate and always will be and will support the conservation and preservation of all of our precious wildlife, especially the Wolf!!! Simply amazing animal and I will Love them and fight for their preservation and safety until God takes me home!!!!!!
Reblogged this on Howling For Justice.