California Fish & Wildlife Commission Oppose Trump Administration’s War On Wolves

The California Fish and Wildlife Commission yesterday voted to formally oppose the Trump administration’s appalling suggestion to end federal wolf protection across the United States.

“We commend the Fish and Game Commission for taking a stand against the Trump administration’s assault on wildlife by opposing its move to remove protection from wolves nationwide,” Jenny Keatinge, California wildlife policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement. “Trump’s plan threatens wolf recovery in California and would set a dangerous precedent that undermines recovery of many other federally endangered species statewide.”

More than 30 people spoke in defense of wolves before the vote. The commission meeting was preceded by a rally for wolves with more than 40 wildlife advocates in wolf masks.

In early March, the Trump administration announced its proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protection from nearly all wolves in the lower 48 states. The move would end 40 years of wolf recovery across the country and leave many wolf populations vulnerable to more hunting, trapping and poisoning.

Although wolves in California would remain protected under state law, the removal of wolf protection in other states could leave California’s packs isolated and susceptible to inbreeding, essentially preventing the state recovery of the species.

“Wolves are just beginning to return home to California, and they still need federal protections to truly recover across the country,” said Keatinge. “There is fierce opposition to Trump’s disastrous proposal, and we’re proud California has joined those ranks.”

In late 2011, a wolf from Oregon, OR-7, entered California, which began the return of wolves to the state. Wolves are protected under California’s Endangered Species Act. Today, fewer than a dozen known wolves live in Northern California.