War on Wildlife, Wildlife Services
If you have not heard about Wildlife Services, a branch of the USDA, you should read this report by WildEarth Guardians that is being presented to Congress and the President. Wildlife Services are the ones responsible for killing wolves, grizzlies and numerous other predators to often protect livestock grazing on public lands. It is costly and controversial and subsidizes an industry at the expense of a more natural ecosystem. In some situations, predators are targeted solely to increase the number of elk and other species for hunters. You can read about one such example at wolves.wordpress.com.
Authors of the 108-page report being presented to USDA, members of Congress and the White House on Tuesday described it as the first comprehensive, national, independent assessment of the agency in 40 years.
In sum, each year, Wildlife Services kills tens of thousands of wild animals and pets,endangers public safety and the safety of its own employees, and spends millions of tax dollars (local, state, and federal) to do so. The 1994/1997 PEIS upon which Wildlife Services relies is anachronistic. Despite the $100 million annual investment in killing over one million animals each year, the GAO, and independent researchers and an economist have shown that the program is ineffective, and the costs outweigh any perceived benefits. Wildlife Services kills wild predators by the thousands using controversial and dangerous methods in futile attempts to bolster the nation’s declining sheep industry.
Link to 108 page pdf
Authors of the 108-page report being presented to USDA, members of Congress and the White House on Tuesday described it as the first comprehensive, national, independent assessment of the agency in 40 years.
In sum, each year, Wildlife Services kills tens of thousands of wild animals and pets,endangers public safety and the safety of its own employees, and spends millions of tax dollars (local, state, and federal) to do so. The 1994/1997 PEIS upon which Wildlife Services relies is anachronistic. Despite the $100 million annual investment in killing over one million animals each year, the GAO, and independent researchers and an economist have shown that the program is ineffective, and the costs outweigh any perceived benefits. Wildlife Services kills wild predators by the thousands using controversial and dangerous methods in futile attempts to bolster the nation’s declining sheep industry.
Link to 108 page pdf