CALL TO ACTION: Tell USGS "Don't Get Political"

The last few years have yielded recorded high mortality for our Yellowstone grizzly bears. Further, the population is in decline. Official estimates for 2014, 2015 and 2016 were 757, 717 and 690 respectively. Nonetheless, delisting marches ahead because the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) claims that it "cannot conclude the population declined between 2014 and 2016" based on, not on objective science, but on values, preferences and politics! (Read more on this topic at GrizzlyTimes)

Time to call out the United States Geological Society, who puts out the annual reports and compiles the scientific data, for playing politics instead of practicing objective science!

Please call, email, tweet, leave Facebook comments for the following USGS officials.

Here is the basic message: Please approach grizzly data objectively, not through a political lens! What does the data objectively prove with regard to population growth for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016? How can you NOT conclude that the population is declining - yet still conclude that it makes sense to delist this population? 

EMAIL:

Frank Van Manen
Suzanne Kimball
Richard Ferrero

PHONE:

Frank Van Manen 406-994-5043
Suzanne Kimball and Richard Ferrero (you can also leave a comment with operator) 703-648-7412

FAX: Frank Van Manen 406-994-6416

REGULAR MAIL: Frank Van Manen, 2327 University Way, Suit 2, Bozeman, MT 59715

FACEBOOK: Leave the comment above IN AN EXISTING COMMENT on the USGS Facebook page. If you can, upload one of our graphics as well. It helps your comment stand out. And please reply to similar comments that you see.

TWITTER: Tweet Sheet is HERE

CALL TO ACTION: Last Chance for Obama Administration to Stop Delisting

The tribal treaty has been completed. It is the most signed treaty in history and has been signed by every tribe owning tribal lands that are biologically suitable for grizzlies. Every tribe in the Yellowstone region has signed and opposes the delisting and trophy hunting of Yellowstone area grizzlies.

Now it is time to get that treaty to President Obama and/or Vice President Biden before they leave office on January 20th. Let's try to get this on their radar through calls, emails, tweets and Facebook comments. This is our last chance with this administration.

TWITTER: TweetSheet

TELEPHONE: 

White House Comment Line  (202-456-1111)

Secretary Jewell (202) 208 7351 (direct)

"Please listen to the tribes and keep Yellowstone grizzly bears protected under the Endangered Species Act."

EMAIL:

President Obama: Submit your message online.
Secretary Jewell: Send to exsec@ios.doi.gov. Then, go to the Feedback Form. Subject should be "Keep Yellowstone Grizzly Protected" or similar. 

"All major tribes and all tribes with lands that are biologically suitable to grizzlies have signed a treaty asking that Yellowstone area grizzlies remained protected under the Endangered Species Act. Please stop the process of delisting these sacred bears before you leave office on January 20th."

FACEBOOK COMMENTS:

Please the following comment in all of the following Facebook pages.

"All major tribes and all tribes with lands that are biologically suitable to grizzlies have signed a treaty asking that Yellowstone area grizzlies remained protected under the Endangered Species Act. Please stop the process of delisting these sacred bears before you leave office on January 20th."

1) President Obama (you can also send a personal message)
2) Vice President Biden
3) Secretary Jewell

TWEET SHEET: Completed Treaty to Stop Delisting

Every tribe with biologically suitable habitat for grizzly bear signed asking @POTUS not to delist great bear! pic.twitter.com/GfESCGYVxL

.@VP Please stand with the tribes. Most signed treaty in history seeking continued protection of grizzly bear. pic.twitter.com/GfESCGYVxL

.@Interior Please listen to the tribes. Most signed treaty in history seeking continued protection of grizzly. pic.twitter.com/GfESCGYVxL

.@SecretaryJewell  Please listen to tribes. Most signed treaty in history seeking continued protection of grizzly pic.twitter.com/GfESCGYVxL

Most signed treaty in history seeks to #KeepGrizzliesProtected! .@POTUS Pls stop grizzly delisting before 1/20! pic.twitter.com/0UOPnkKScR

.@SecretaryJewell Respect indigenous rights! Accept treaty to #KeepGrizzliesProtected! Stop delisting before 1/20 pic.twitter.com/0UOPnkKScR

Most signed treaty in history seeks to #KeepGrizzliesProtected! .@Interior Pls stop grizzly delisting before 1/20 pic.twitter.com/0UOPnkKScR

Pls help wildlife and tribal sovereignty before 1/20! Pls accept treaty to stop grizzly bear delisting .@VP pic.twitter.com/0UOPnkKScR

.@SecretaryJewell Tribes see grizzlies as eco-tourism opportunity. Trophy hunting kills that. Pls don't delist! pic.twitter.com/hYs3yzt5co

All major tribes oppose delisting and trophy hunting of Yellowstone's grizzlies. Please stop the delisting @VP. pic.twitter.com/hYs3yzt5co

Grizzlies offer economic opportunity to tribes as eco-tourism. Trophy hunting doesn't! Don't delist! .@Interior pic.twitter.com/hYs3yzt5co

.@POTUS Tribes see grizzlies as economic opportunity=eco-tourism. Trophy hunting kills that. Pls don't delist! pic.twitter.com/hYs3yzt5co

.@POTUS All major tribes & tribes with biologically suitable grizzly habitat sign treaty asking to stop delisting pic.twitter.com/PGjIykgnYU

.@VP All major tribes & tribes with biologically suitable grizzly habitat sign treaty asking to stop delisting pic.twitter.com/PGjIykgnYU

.@SecretaryJewell All major tribes & tribes w/biologically suitable grizzly habitat sign treaty against delisting pic.twitter.com/PGjIykgnYU

.@Interior All major tribes & tribes w/ biologically suitable grizzly habitat sign treaty asking to not delist! pic.twitter.com/PGjIykgnYU

STORM SECRETARY JEWELL

Actual delisting is still a few months away BUT Secretary Jewell could stop this now. Please pressure her to pull the plug on the delisting process so that it falls to the next administration. This is her last chance to have a positive impact on our wildlife.

TELEPHONE:  (202) 208 7351 (direct)

"Please continue to protect the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear under the Endangered Species Act and ensure that they are not the subject of trophy hunting".

EMAIL: Send to exsec@ios.doi.gov. Then, go to the Feedback Form. Subject should be "Keep Yellowstone Grizzly Protected" or similar. Text is as follows or in your own words:

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears are threatened due to climate change which in turn has decimated their food sources. Fewer key foods available means that these bears range farther looking for food, and invariably encountering humans. As a result, grizzly mortality in the region is at an all time high with the population declining. Now is NOT the time to delist Yellowstone grizzlies. Please stop this process and keep grizzlies protected.

FACEBOOK: Go to Interior's Facebook page and leave one of the following comments IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF AN EXISTING POST. Please also add a photo if possible - it makes your post stand out more.

1) Please keep Yellowstone grizzlies protected! Their population is declining and mortality rates are at an all time high.

2) Please keep grizzlies in Yellowstone area protected. They should NEVER be subject to trophy hunting. 

3) Stop the plan to remove Yellowstone area grizzly bears from the Endangered Species List. They must remain protected as they are threatened from climate change, habitat loss and human encroachment.

Comment in Favor of Non-Lethal Predator Control

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comments on Predator Damage and Conflict Management in Wyoming. The APHIS is offering 5 different alternatives to consider.  The first is to basically keep things as is and allow Wildlife Services to use full range of lethal and non-lethal control methods.

The other alternatives are:

Alternative 2) discontinue all Wildlife Services-Wyoming involvement Predator Damage Management ("PDM")

Alternative 3) Wildlife Services-Wyoming is restricted to using only nonlethal PDM methods

Alternative 4) restricts Wildlife Services-Wyoming to using or recommending only nonlethal methods

Alternative 5) requires livestock grazing permittees, landowners or resource mangers to: show evidence of sustained and ongoing use of nonlethal techniques aimed at preventing or reducing predation prior to receiving assistance with legal PDM methods from Wildlife Services-Wyoming  

View full text here.

Please submit a comment BEFORE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16. Please re-word 2 to 3 of the talking points below into your own words to avoid duplication. Submit your comment here.

• I support Alternatives 2 and 4. 
• In September 2016, a study led by Aidan Treves, found that nonlethal methods were generally more effective than lethal methods for preventing carnivore predation of livestock.
• The same study found that lethal methods - in particular government culling and regulated public hunting - backfired, leading to increases in livestock predation in some cases. By contrast, none of the nonlethal methods resulted in counterproductive impacts.
• Native carnivores are important keystone species, impacting the entire ecosystems in which they live. They are a true public trust asset and should not be killed to benefit livestock producers.
• The best available scientific evidence supports nonlethal methods of predator management instead of lethal methods.
• Effective use of nonlethal methods preserve both predators and private livestock.

Thank you for your support!

REVISITING TWEET SHEET : Political Meddling

1) The man who okay'd killing of #ProfanityPeakPack also leading team on delisting of grizzly bears pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0 .@seattletimes

2) Head of interagency team on grizzlies: "biggest champion of black bears are black bear hunters." Just NO! pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0 

3) Mindset of co-chair on grizzly study team: "biggest champion of mountain lions are mountain lion hunters" pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0

4) Co-Chair of Interagency Grizzly Study Team ok'd killing of #ProfanityPeakPack, known for managing predators. pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0  

5) Why does the guy who ok'd killing of #ProfanityPeakPAck get to say whether protect grizzlies? .@freespeechtv pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0 

6) The man who authorized killing of #ProfanityPeakPack also leading team on delisting of grizzly bears pic.twitter.com/gizaBOOZg0 .@dodo

7) Why is global energy company involved in process of removing grizzlies from ESA List? .@elizabethforma @NatGeo pic.twitter.com/4O2QMWVpvn

8) Meet team deciding on grizzly protection: trophy hunter, #ProfanityPeakPack killer, oil/gas company pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@EnviroNews

9) Why are these people the decision-makers on removing grizzlies from Endangered Species List? pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@freespeechtv @cnn

10) Meet the folks involved in removing protections for grizzlies: hunters and oil companies. pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@democracynow @latimes

11) Meet team overseeing grizzly delisting: trophy hunter, #ProfanityPeakPack killer, energy company pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@MotherJones

12) Meet team overseeing grizzly delisting: trophy hunter, #ProfanityPeakPack killer, energy company pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@GloriaDickie

13) Here is the team that gets to decide whether we continue protecting Yellowstone grizzly. pic.twitter.com/eXmmyhC7eH .@mtpublicradio @FLOTUS

14) .@USFWS handpicked peer reviewers then hired oil/gas/mining company to oversee peer review on grizzly delisting! pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

15) Peer review process for grizzly bear delisting reeks of conflicts of interest, political meddling! .@alfranken pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

16) Peer review process for grizzly delisting reeks of conflicts of interest, political meddling! .@SenAugustKing pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

17) How is this ok? Global energy company oversaw peer review for removing grizzly from ESA. .@KCWY13 @timkaine pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

18) Conflict of Interest: 3M acres by Yellowstone open for mining, fracking if grizzly loses protection .@NPRinskeep pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

19) How is this ok? Global energy company oversaw peer review for removing grizzly from ESA .@barbaraboxer @Interior pic.twitter.com/em7XtUuYeX

20) .@USGS played politics to hide info that showed grizzly bear delisting not appropriate .@thinkprogress @vox pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

21) Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team delayed report by months, final report had glaring omissions .@Sen_JoeManchin pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

22) .@USGS delayed annual report, omitted major info bc stats show grizzlies should not be delisted .@freespeechtv pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

23) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly bear report by months, then omit several key statistics? .@HuffingtonPost @EcoWatch pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

24Politics, not science! .@USGS delayed by months annual grizzly report, omitted critical info. @conservationmag pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

25) Politics, not science, caused .@USGS to delay by months annual grizzly bear report, omit critical info. @UCSUSA pic.twitter.com/EE7JcSwJvx

26) Why oil/gas company, led by ex-Halliburton exec, overseeing peer review on grizzly delisting? .@RepRaulGrijalva pic.twitter.com/8ftKjkP8LM

27) Why is oil/gas company, led by ex-Halliburton exec, overseeing peer review on grizzly delisting? .@karinbrulliard pic.twitter.com/8ftKjkP8LM

28) Energy company has no business overseeing scientific peer review for grizzly delisting .@SenatorCantwell @kgwntv pic.twitter.com/8ftKjkP8LM

29) Energy companies shd not be involved in removing animals from Endangered Species list. Corrupt! .@hillaryclinton pic.twitter.com/8ftKjkP8LM

31) Energy company has no business overseeing scientific peer review for grizzly delisting .@MartinHeinrich @nytimes pic.twitter.com/8ftKjkP8LM

32) Govt agencies delayed annual report by months, final had major omissions. Reeks of political tampering. .@USGS pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk 

33) .@USGS delayed IGBST annual report by months, final had major omissions. Political tampering!? .@sensanders pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk

34) .@USGS delayed grizzly team report by months, final report had major omissions. Political tampering!? .@tomudall pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk

35) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly team report by months? Then omit major info? @barbaraboxer @POTUS @RepRaulGrijalva pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk

36) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly team report by months? Then omit major info? @thinkprogress @democracynow @reveal pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk

37) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly team report by months? Then omit major info? @RepHuffman @RepCartwright @mj_wright1 pic.twitter.com/h94kU4iozk

38) Per FOIA doc, .@USFWS handpicked "independent" scientists for peer review of grizzly delisting @SecretaryJewell pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

39) FOIA doc reveals .@USFWS handpicked "independent" scientists for peer review of grizzly delisting! .@Interior pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

40) FOIA doc shows .@USFWS handpicked "independent" scientists for peer review of grizzly delisting! .@RepLoisCapps pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

41) Whoa! How is this "independent"? Conflict of interest at .@USFWS over grizzly removal from ESA. @nikkiinthehouse pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

42) Yet again, .@USFWS engaging in politics not science. Handpicking peer reviewers=conflict of interest @jaredpolis pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

43) FOIA doc reveals .@USFWS handpicked "independent" scientists for peer review of grizzly delisting! .@sciam pic.twitter.com/yXulIzGRV6

44) Why aren't GYE grizzly experts making decisions on GYE grizzly delisting? .@directorDanAshe .@RepRaulGrijalva pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja

45) Why aren't GYE grizzly experts making decisions on GYE grizzly delisting? .@SecretaryJewell @RepDebDingell @POTUS pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja

46) Why is a Kentucky black bear expert deciding conservation strategy for GYE grizzlies? pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja .@sciam @nature @UCSUSA

47) Why aren't GYE grizzly experts making decisions on GYE grizzly delisting? .@pedropierluisi @highcountrynews  pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja

48) Why are non-GYE grizzly biologists the ones calling the shots for GYE grizzly bears? pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja .@jamescrugnale @kpaxnews

49) Why is a Kentucky black bear expert deciding conservation strategy for GYE grizzlies? pic.twitter.com/5lLg04Kjja .@RepDonBeyer .@Interior

50) Global energy company oversaw peer review on delisting Yellowstone grizzly from ESA. .@Reuters .@democracynow pic.twitter.com/BIbH6g39hm

51) Global energy company oversaw peer review on delisting Yellowstone grizzly from ESA. .@csmonitor @mtpublicradio pic.twitter.com/BIbH6g39hm

52) Here is the international oil, gas and mining company overseeing peer review on grizzly delisting .@alternet pic.twitter.com/BIbH6g39hm

53) 28 possible mines in Yellowstone area and mining corporation involved in grizzly delisting? .@bozchron @stabenow pic.twitter.com/BIbH6g39hm

54) 28 possible mines in Yellowstone area but mining corporation is involved in grizzly delisting? .@billingsgazette pic.twitter.com/BIbH6g39hm

55) Stand with tribes! .@DirectorDanAshe .@SecretaryJewell must keep grizzlies protected! #NoDAPL #ProtectTheSacred pic.twitter.com/prKjj4YPBR

56) 50+ tribes stick up for grizzly bears; bemoan energy industry involvement with removal from ESA .@democracynow pic.twitter.com/prKjj4YPBR

57) 50+ tribes stick up for grizzly bears; bemoan energy industry involvement with removal from ESA .@SusanSarandon pic.twitter.com/prKjj4YPBR

58) 50+ tribes oppose removal of grizzly from Endangered Species list, demand consultation. .@shailenewoodley pic.twitter.com/2p2NZ716uT #NoDAPL

59) 50+ tribes oppose removal of grizzly from Endangered Species list, demand consultation. .@rosariodawson pic.twitter.com/2p2NZ716uT #NoDAPL

60) .@USGS delayed grizzly bear annual report by months then omitted critical info. Playing politics! .@maziehirono pic.twitter.com/GCb894ZPQV

61) .@USGS delayed grizzly annual report by months then omitted critical info. Playing politics! .@WyomingNews365 pic.twitter.com/GCb894ZPQV

62) Talk about bad optics! .@USGS delayed grizzly annual report by months then omitted critical info .@mcguffindavid pic.twitter.com/GCb894ZPQV

63) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly annual report by months then omit critical info year of delisting? .@jzaffos pic.twitter.com/GCb894ZPQV 

64) Why did .@USGS delay grizzly bear annual report by months, omit critical info in final report? .@RichMonastersky pic.twitter.com/GCb894ZPQV

REVISITING CALL TO ACTION: Political Meddling

The process for removing GYE grizzly bears from the Endangered Species list stinks! It is rife with conflicts of interest, delayed reports, suppression of information, and deliberate dissemination of misinformation ( the article claiming mortality levels were down when they are at record highs). 

This is not right. This is not how the Endangered Species Act is supposed to work. This week's action aims to garner attention for the blatant political meddling contaminating the delisting process. Please leave Facebook comments, tweet the TweetSheet, send emails and make phone calls.

TWITTER: Here is the TWEETSHEET

FACEBOOK COMMENTS: Please leave a comment on an article on the following pages, expressing your concern that politics are taking precedence over science in the process of delisting grizzly bears. Where possible, share one of our graphics.

1) White House
2) USFWS
3) Raul Grijalva
4) your Senator and/or Representative (click here to find their contact information)
5) Interior

EMAILS: Please email President Obama, Sally Jewell, Dan Ashe and your Senator and Representative telling him or her the following:


I am extremely concerned that a process which is supposed to be driven be science - removing a species from the protections of the Endangered Species Act - has been contaminated by political meddling. First, an oil, gas and mining company has no business overseeing the scientific peer review. Second, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team delayed its released of the 2015 annual report by several months and only produced the final report when pushed to do so by the public and media. Unfortunately, the final report omitted critically important information - statistics on population growth, mortality rate and more. Critics believe that this information was omitted because it does not support the agenda of removing grizzlies from the Endangered Species list. As if that were not sufficient, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, itself, is headed by a former Safari Club lobbyist and an avid hunter who strongly believes in managing predators. Finally, FOIA documents have revealed that the USFWS handpicked "independent" scientists for the peer review. It is clear that this plan is politically motivated and not in accordance with the best available science. Another document obtained through FOIA reveals that Director Dan Ashe felt the same way. This is not how the Endangered Species Act was meant to function. It is time to clean up the conflicts of interest and questionable decisions and follow the best available science. 

PHONE CALLS:

President Obama - 202-456-1111
Secretary Sally Jewell - 202-208-3100 
Director Dan Ashe - 202-208-4717