Dear Barbara,

I have sad news. Yellowstone National Park's famous Cottonwood Pack has just been destroyed -- all the adult wolves have been killed, and the surviving pups will likely die without the rest of their wolf family.

The Cottonwoods are just some of the latest victims of the federal government's likely illegal decision to eliminate vital protections for our wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies. Unless we are successful in urging Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to reverse this bad decision, hundreds more wolves will be killed.

The Cottonwood wolves are not alone. They're among the more than 60 wolves already killed in the region -- a disturbingly high number for a hunting season only weeks old.

I was there when the first wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, and I have personally guided Defenders members to watch the Cottonwood Pack. It is particularly heartbreaking to see one of America's greatest conservation victories slip from our grasp because of a policy mistake. But there is still time to correct it -- and if we act quickly, we can still save the lives of literally hundreds of wolves in the region.

Our wolves need your voice -- and the support of as many others as possible who care about the future of these magnificent animals.


The next few weeks will be crucial for our wolves in this region. The truth is, the future of wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies is at a crossroads -- and it will take the voices of caring wildlife supporters like you to make a difference.

Last month, a federal judge ruled that we are likely to win our lawsuit to restore protections for these beloved wolves. But with the lives of hundreds of wolves at stake, we can't wait for the final ruling on our case -- a ruling that will likely not come for many months.

The Cottonwood wolves were not the first victims of the flawed delisting -- and they certainly won't be the last. The time has come to correct the unacceptable error made by the Obama administration that continues to erode one of the greatest conservation victories of the last century.
Together, we can ensure that wolves will be an enduring part of America.

Sincerely,

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. No new administration is immune from mistakes -- even big ones like this. We are strongly encouraging Obama's Interior Department to recognize their error and correct it immediately. But we need your help to make sure they know how important this is.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you make them feel...
~Unknown~