CALL TO ACTION: URGENT LAST CHANCE TO STOP DELISTING

YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLIES NEED YOUR VOICE NOW MORE THAN EVER.  THIS MAY BE THE VERY LAST CALL TO ACTION BEFORE THEY'RE OFFICIALLY DELISTED FROM THE ESA.  TROPHY HUNTING IS EMMIENT.

Native News Online has learned that on June 26 Secretary Zinke is expected to announce the delisting of the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  Zinke has apparently chosen the Western Governors Association (WGA) Annual Meeting (June 26-28) in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, to declare the grizzly delisting rule.

TALKING POINTS: CALL/EMAIL/FACEBOOK 

I do not support the delisting of Yellowstone grizzly bears.  Sec. Zinke needs to honor the mandatory pre-decision and meaningful government-to-government consultation with tribes over grizzly delisting. Members of Congress from BOTH parties have asked him to do so.

We need to see the 2016 Inter Grizzly Bear Study Report (IGBST). Over the past three years, the Yellowstone grizzly bear population has been declining, with mortality at record high rates.  Where is the report?

Have they answered the overwhelming 600,000 public comments?

CALL: 
Secretary Ryan Zinke:  202-208-7351

Laura Paramore (USFWS) - Assistant Chief, Office of Public Affairs
Office: (703) 358-2541  Cell: (703) 589-6947

Christina Meister (USFWS) - Public Affairs Specialist
Office: (703) 358-2284

Find your Senators' phone numbers HERE and your Representative's phone numbers HERE. It is best to call one of the local offices, rather than the DC office.

EMAIL: 
Secretary Ryan Zinke: feedback@ios.doi.gov
 Laury Parramore, Assistant Chief: Laury_Parramore@fws.gov
Christina Meister: Christina_Meister@fws.gov

Members of Congress: Contact forms for Senators HERE, for your representatives HERE. Write, in your own words,  You do not support the delisting of Yellowstone grizzly bears.

TWEET: .@SecretaryZinke Heed bipartisan call to meet with tribes prior to grizzly delisting! Respect tribal sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/JKUdzoUsNB

FACEBOOK COMMENTS/MESSAGES:

Secretary Zinke's Page
Department of Interior Page
USFWS Page

Where Is the 2016 IGBST Annual Report?

Every year, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) releases an annual report on the state of grizzly bears. "This Annual Report summarizes results of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) monitoring and research conducted in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) by the IGBST .... The report also contains a summary of grizzly bear management actions to address conflict situations."

Reports usually come out in spring for the previous year. Given the fact a delisting decision is expected to occur very soon, it is imperative that the report be published as soon as possible. Experts need to see the latest data to determine the health of Yellowstone's grizzly population.  

Please contact Frank Van Manen of USGS, the head of the IGBST, and ask: Where Is the Annual IGBST Report for 2016? When will it be published? It is important for the public to have the opportunity to review it prior to a delisting decision.

EMAIL: fvanmanen@usgs.gov

PHONE: 406-994-5043

FAX: 406-994-6416

REGULAR MAIL: 2327 University Way, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT 59715

FACEBOOK: Comment on an existing post on USGS Facebook page. Ask when the 2016 IGBST report will be out.

TWITTER: .@USGS When will 2016 IGBST Annual Report be out? Needed ASAP to assess GYE population health prior to delisting pic.twitter.com/ghTsVnaThV

HELP NEEDED: Wyoming Grizzly with Trap on Foot

  

Adding to this action: Since we are not satisfied with the response from WGFD please contact US Fish and Wildlife Mountain Prairie Division. 

Your voice needed. A grizzly bear was spotted in Bridger-Teton National Forest near the Blackrock Ranger Station with a trap on its foot. While Wyoming Game & Fish Department is said to be looking for the bear, public pressure can help get more resources allocated to help this bear.   

Please contact the departments and communicate the following:

When are traps being put out so that the bear can be sedated and the trap on its foot removed? Why were traps not put out immediately upon learning of this incident? 

A local man has offered to hire a helicopter to search for the bear at no cost to the department. Will the department accept this help and get a helicopter in the air immediately?

Advocates are also willing to fundraise for a tracker and for veterinary care and rehabilitation for the bear. Will the department accept this help?

EMAILS:  
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Dan Thompson, daniel.thompson@wyo.gov 
Brad Hovinga, brad.hovinga@wyo.gov
Scott Edberg, scott.edberg@wyo.gov
USFWS

Hilary Cooley, hilary_cooley@fws.gov
Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team
 Frank Van Manen, fvanmanen@usgs.gov
Mark Haroldson, mark_haroldson@usgs.gov

PHONE CALLS: 
WGFD 307-733-2321
USFWS:
Grizzly Bear Recovery Telephone: 406-243-4903
Kalispell Field Suboffice Telephone: 406-758-6868
IGBST: 
Mark Haroldson 406-994-5042
Frank Van Manen 406-994-5043


FACEBOOK: Leave a comment on an existing article on WGFD page. USFWSMountainPrairie

CLICK TO TWEET: What is being done to help Jackson region grizzly with Conifer trap on its foot? Find bear & remove trap ASAP pls pic.twitter.com/KPCl4LHT6c

.@USFWSMtnPrairie Intervention needed ASAP! Endangered species (grizzly) caught in illegal trap in Jackson region pic.twitter.com/g6KuVQxy8k

Comments for North Cascades Grizzly Bears

Comments for the North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Restoration Program are due April 28, 2017.  There is one thing you can do that is more powerful than calling your representatives and it is leaving a public comment!  You need to have a United States city and state to comment.

Make sure that YOUR voice is heard (and the voices of friends and family whom you will hopefully encourage to also leave a comment). 

Please REWORD the talking points below when writing your comments. Please prepare your comments in a separate document and then copy and paste them into the National Park Servie comments page.

Submit your comment in favor of Alternative C HERE.

TALKING POINTS:

• I write to ask the National Park Service to implement Alternative C which would incrementally restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades.
• Alternative C best balances the needs of people with the need for grizzly bear recovery.
• In addition to the bears added under Alternative C, bears should be added as is necessary to maintain genetic diversity and positive population growth.
• There are only around 10 grizzly bears left in the North Cascades. There is not enough connectivity for the population to access other bear populations. As a result, letting grizzlies repopulate the area naturally has not been successful. 
• If no action is taken and grizzlies are not purposefully restored to the North Cascades that population, which consists of only 10 or so bears, would likely go extinct.
• In addition to supporting Alternative C, I ask that the Service protect connectivity corridors. Linkage zones are essential for species recovery.
• I also ask that the Service considers introducing MORE bears than initially proposed to ensure successful restoration. An isolated population of 200 bears will not be viable. Instead, the Service should aim for a goal of 500 bears. 
• Further, I would ask that more recovery area be considered. It is well established that the larger the recovery area - for grizzlies - the more likely recovery will be successful.
• Bringing grizzly bears back to the North Cascades would enrich the ecosystem because these bears are both umbrella species and ecosystem engineers, positively impacting the health of many of the other species with which they share the ecosystem. These bears help regulate populations of elk, deer and the like as well as help fertilize the forests.
• There is no scientific or legal justification for the use of an “experimental non-essential” classification for an North Cascades Ecosystem population.   
• Special attention should be paid to roads, which increase conflict with grizzlies as well as mortality.
• The Service needs to come up with a better plan for reducing conflict with livestock operators and rancher compensation programs. 

Thank Congresswoman Waters for Defending Tribal Rights & Yellowstone Grizzlies

California Congresswoman Maxine Waters has joined tribal allies in the fight against Greater Yellowstone grizzly delisting, and the deep cultural and spiritual impacts it would have on tribes and their traditional lands nearby. Please thank her!

PHONE CALLS: Call 1-855-980-2397 today to show your support for her efforts to protect wildlife and tribal rights!

FACEBOOK COMMENTS: Copy and paste (or write your own) in an existing post on her page. 

Thank you Congresswoman Waters for standing up for tribal rights and Yellowstone area grizzlies. #DontDelistGrizzlies #ProtectSacredGriz

CLICK TO TWEET:

.@MaxineWaters Thank you for standing up for tribes & grizzly bears! #DontDelistGrizzlies http://bit.ly/2nETlLy pic.twitter.com/F2h0bVz1qV

Thank you .@MaxineWaters! Defends tribal rights in fight to stop GYE grizzly delisting #DontDelistGrizzlies pic.twitter.com/cAFW6aab9t

Congresswoman .@MaxineWaters stands up for tribal rights & Yellowstone grizzlies. Call 855-980-2397 to say thanks pic.twitter.com/cAFW6aab9t

IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION: Write Montana State Senators to Keep Grizzlies Protected

URGENT CALL TO ACTION:

Montana state legislature is considering a resolution that would urge the Montana US Congressional delegation (two senators and one representative) to push for legislatively delisting grizzly bears in Congress. This would resemble what we are seeing with wolves, where activists are constantly beating back amendments, riders and other legislation to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List. This resolution, HJ15, cannot be vetoed by the Governor and seeks to remove ALL Montana grizzly bears from the protections of the Endangered Species Act. This would include Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzlies as well as the bears of Northern Continental Divide and Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystems.

HJ15 passed Montana's House of Representatives and has been transmitted to the state senate. There will be additional, more targeted Calls to Action in the coming weeks. Now, please start with the following:

MONTANA RESIDENTS:

Call your AND email your State Senator, indicating that you are a constituent and that you oppose HJ15 because it bypasses the Endangered Species Act which has a proven record of success. Phone numbers and email addresses found HERE. If you have more time, please continue on to the Everyone Else section below.

EVERYONE ELSE:

1) Write Montana State Senators with this tool. There is even a place for out of state residents. Please write in your own words (including any connection you have to Montana or whether you are a hunter/angler) or copy and paste the following:

I oppose HJ15, which would ask Montana's congressional delegation to seek the grizzlies removal from the Endangered Species list in the US Congress. The process is already underway for delisting of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears. The USFWS is currently considering input from scientific experts and over 450,000 public comments submitted on the Yellowstone delisting. Passing HJ15 would silence all of those voices and  turn a deaf ear to science. Even worse, HJ15 seeks to remove Endangered Species Act protections for Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and Cabinet-Yaak grizzly populations. USFWS has not yet begun delisting processes for either of these populations, which means that USFWS and its scientists have not yet weighed in on the health of these populations. Nor have the public as well as independent grizzly experts.

Through this resolution, Montana is seeking to bypass the Endangered Species Act, one of the most successful environmental laws in our nation's history. In the forty years since its passage, the Endangered Species Act has brought countless species back from the brink of extinction, including bald eagles, humpback whales and sea otters. It has a 99% success rate! The State of Montana should not seek to mess with a process and system that works to save species. I urge a NO vote on HJ15. 

2) Email State Senators with the same messages as above.  Email addresses are HERE.

3) Send a postcard to the State Senators with the following message. "I oppose HJ15 as it undermines the Endangered Species Act and ignores science." Postcard stamps are .$34 each. Mailing addresses can be found HERE.

COMMENTS NEEDED: Montana Considering Bypassing Endangered Species Act to Delist

Please leave a comment ON THESE NEWS ARTICLES (not on this post) saying that you are against delisting grizzly bears. All of these articles cover Montana's efforts to bypass the Endangered Species Act and delist grizzly bears through Congress, instead of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service:

Spokesman-Review 

Missoulian 

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Idaho Statesman 

 Also, please comment on these FB articles: 

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Missoulian