DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER - WOLVES

Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 5:56 PM
To: Dear Colleague; Republican LD's; Democratic LDs
Subject: Dear Colleague; Resources; Oppose H.R. 3663 the Wolves Are Cute Act

Dear Colleague,

We are now witnessing firsthand one of the most cynical, disingenuous, and Misleading fund-raising campaigns ever to be launched by a radical environmental group. Center stage in their campaign is Rep. George Miller’s H.R. 3663, the Wolves are Cute Act, which would end the State of Alaska’s Aerial Predator Management Program. Contrary to what the bill’s supporters and their friends in the animal fund-raising community would like you to believe, the Program H.R. 3663 seeks to eliminate is not “aerial hunting.” It is a necessary wildlife management tool which ensures the State continues to have a healthy, viable population of wolves while making certain that these extremely efficient predators to do not threaten the availability of caribou, moose and other wildlife species on which thousands of rural and Native Alaskans depend for survival.

In their efforts to muster support for H.R. 3663 while raising thousands of dollars in donations, Defenders of Wildlife have been busy inundating unsuspecting Americans throughout the country with emotional photos and inaccurate information about Alaska’s Predator Control Program. As a result, I’m sure some of you have heard from misinformed constituents urging you to cosponsor Mr. Miller’s bill, and this week members from the Defenders of Wildlife will likely pay you a personal visit to follow up on their donors’ calls.

As Alaska’s sole Representative in the House, I appreciate the opportunity to Provide you with some of the many reasons why NOT to support H.R. 3663:

---The State’s predator control program is a State issue, not a Federal issue.

---The State program H.R. 3663 aims to eliminate is not “hunting.” It Is necessary predator control used to ensure the security of the food sources on which wolves prey and thousands of rural and Native Alaskans depend for survival. As Governor Sarah Palin explained in her letter to George Miller: “Our science-driven and abundance-based predator management program enlists volunteers permitted to use aircraft to kill some predators in specified areas of the State where we are trying to increase opportunities for Alaskans to put healthy food on their families’ dinner tables."

---Because Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, but has fewer miles of paved roads than Rhode Island, aircraft are the only efficient means of managing the State’s wolves. And because this is not “hunting," issues of “fair chase” do not apply.

---Your state may be next. H.R. 3663 is a direct threat to the constitutionally guaranteed state sovereignty over wildlife management not just for Alaska, but all states.

Fellow colleagues, Alaskans are suffering from an overabundance of wolves.

The Predator Control Program that H.R. 3663 would eliminate is essential to minimizing the threat wolves pose to the nutritional well-being of thousands of rural and Native Alaskans, not to mention the lives of pet dogs.

I propose a solution that should satisfy all parties concerned:

Since the sponsor of H.R. 3663 seems to have such a deep love for wolves, and now that the Defenders of Wildlife have raised well over $100,000 on the animals' behalf, I propose that Defenders use that money to gather Alaska’s surplus wolves and safely transport them to the seventh district of California.

This proposal is a win-win for everyone, and I would suggest my colleagues present it to Defenders of Wildlife representatives roaming the Capitol this week.

Sincerely,

/s DON YOUNG

Ranking Member
Committee on Natural Resources