The U.S. Sportsmens Alliance Foundation (USSAF) has joined forces with Great Lakes area state hunting organizations and local outdoorsmen to block animal rights groups attempts to provide 'unnecessary protections' to thriving wolf populations.
The USSAFs Legal Defense Fund is filing a motion to intervene against a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and others involving the great lakes population of wolves.
After President Obama was elected, the USSAF said the FWS reviewed the wolf decision and concluded that the species was healthy enough to be delisted.
“This frivolous lawsuit makes it clear that anti-hunting groups will never support a species removal from the Endangered Species List, no matter how healthy and abundant the population has become,” said Rob Sexton, vice president for Government Affairs with USSAF. “Presidents from both political parties have seen the data and knew this was the right thing to do. While the antis play their delaying tactics, sportsmen across the Great Lakes states continue to lose their hunting dogs to attacks by the thriving wolf population and many sportsmen are reporting declines in deer numbers in the wolf range.”
USSAF is being joined in the motion to intervene by the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and two local Wisconsin hunters.
“It is critical that the states be allowed to manage the wolf population,” said Meyer. “In addition to losing my own dogs, the unchecked wolf population is devastating other wildlife including bear cubs. We need to make sure the court knows this information.”
More urgent at this point, the plaintiffs have filed for a temporary restraining order to stop wolves from being managed by the states while the case moves through the courts, said the USSAF. This is a process that could take years and is a frequent delaying tactic by opponents of hunting.
The USSAF also invited Safari Club International Foundation to join the effort.
