We need your help to protect wolves in New York State
Please sign this petition to support a new bill that will protect wolves in New York!
New legislation will ensure that wolves that are currently in New York State or pass through will receive new protections. This bill will ensure protections for wolves, an endangered species protected by federal and New York State law, by requiring the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to collect genetic data about large canids with specified characteristics that are killed by hunters and trappers in New York. The data collected will help DEC identify areas of the state where wolves may be present and will help DEC to gather important information on the coyote and wolf populations in the state. The legislation does not reduce the hunting season or decrease bag limits for hunters and trappers lawfully killing coyotes or other game animals in New York State.
Hunter and trappers will need to report to DEC coyotes that they have harvested, so that DEC will have details about the animals, how many are taken, and where they are located when they are taken. This reporting is similar to what hunters and trappers already do for other animal species. In addition, DEC will be required to have a DNA analysis conducted for any coyotes that weigh greater than 50 pounds in order to determine the genetic composition of the animal. If the DNA analysis shows that the animal is a wolf, then DEC may impose a temporary moratorium on the killing of all wild canids (coyotes and wolves) in a specific area in order to protect any wolves in the area. DEC will decide the length of time and the location of the moratorium.
Click here for more background information.
Wolves historically inhabited much of the lower 48 states of the U.S., but by the early 1900s were extirpated throughout most of their range, including in New York State, due to intentional eradication campaigns. Wolves are ecologically essential for healthy natural ecosystems and can travel hundreds of miles to reestablish territories if sufficient legal protections are in place to allow them safe passage. Over the past few decades, wolves have periodically migrated into New York and neighboring northeastern states from Canada and the Great Lakes. However, due to the similarity in appearance between wolves and large eastern coyotes, these animals have been and will continue to be killed by hunters and trappers in New York. Since wolves are protected as endangered species according to both federal and New York State law, there is a need for specific on-the-ground actions to prevent future killings due to mistaken species identity.
(Picture above by Larry Master.)
Sign the Petition to Support a New Bill to Protect Wolves
Only your Name and Town/City and State will be listed when we make the signed petition available to the public and to State decision makers.
For information about this petition, contact Protect the Adirondacks! at info@protectadks.org.
