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Decision Not to Protect Wolverines in the U.S. is New Low
Bush administration passes the buck to Canada, Mexico to protect border wildlife
WASHINGTON D.C. – In a stunning interpretation of its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush administration decided today that it has no obligation to protect endangered wildlife, provided they are contiguous with larger populations in Canada or Mexico.
The following is a statement by Jamie Rappaport Clark, executive vice president of Defenders of Wildlife and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Clinton administration.
“This sets a new low in a long line of irresponsible, disturbing decisions made of late by the Bush administration. The Endangered Species Act was designed to protect and preserve imperiled wildlife populations– not so that we can pass our responsibilities off onto our border neighbors, who may not have the resources or protections that we have here. As the famed naturalist Aldo Leopold said about grizzly bears: “Relegating grizzlies to Alaska is about like relegating happiness to heaven; one may never get there.” In this case, grizzlies can be substituted with wolverine – a species not as fortunate as the grizzly in gaining federal protection.
I am deeply disturbed by the refusal of the Bush administration to protect species such as the wolverine, jaguar, pygmy owl and marbeled murrelets. There is undisputed scientific evidence proving that federal protections are needed due to their precarious status in the United States.
If the same narrow criterion that is being applied to the wolverine was applied to the American bald eagle, it would no longer be with us. There was a healthy population of bald eagles outside the United States, yet we recognized the need to protect its viability as a species within the United States. The wolverine and jaguar deserve the same consideration. They are important elements of the American wildlife landscape, like the bald eagle, gray wolf, and grizzly bear – all of which would not have been protected were the same narrow policy applied to them.
The future of the wolverine depends upon the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doing the job that it was entrusted to do; protect and recover imperiled wildlife within our borders. Instead, the Bush administration is once again shirking this duty and ignoring science. The Bush administration is essentially telling our wolverines ‘sorry we can’t help you, try Canada.’”
Learn more about what Defenders is doing to protect the Endangered Species Act and the wolverine.
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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org
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