For Immediate Release August 28, 2017
Contact: Emily Renn, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (928) 202-1325
Over 60 Business People Call for Mexican Gray Wolves to be Recovered in the Grand Canyon Area
U.S. Government is Seeking Comments to Recovery Plan that Fails to Bring the Endangered Wolves to the Area
Over sixty business people are calling for the recovery of endangered gray wolves in the Grand Canyon area in northern Arizona and southern Utah, citing economic and environmental benefits. They are submitting their request in a joint letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The service is seeking public comments on its controversial draft plan that ignored recommendations by scientists by limiting the wolf recovery efforts to just one area in the U.S. located south of Route 40 in Arizona and New Mexico.
Signers include owners and others in a wide array of industries, such as tourism, outdoor, retail, lodging, restaurants, artists and service industries.
The letter reads: “I urge the USFWS to stick to the principle of basing recovery goals for the Mexican wolf on peer-reviewed science and to resist the efforts of narrow political interests that undermine this recovery. I am with the 81% of Arizona voters who support the return of the Mexican wolf to the Grand Canyon region and who look forward to the benefits, both ecological and economic, which will accompany this return.”
“I view the recovery of the Mexican wolf in the Grand Canyon ecoregion as a positive for our region. My business will benefit from the increased tourism that can be expected based on the experience of the recovery of the gray wolf in the Yellowstone region where wolf-tourism has brought $35 million a year into the region.”
Examples of the signers are owners and others from Adessi Adventures LLC, Babbitt's Backcountry Outfitters, Canyon REO, Dark Sky Brewing, Firecreek Coffee, Flagstaff Climbing Center, Flagstaff Soap Company, Lee's Ferry Lodge, Kahtoola, Marble Canyon Lodge, Marble Canyon Metalworks, plus many more.
Ellen Winchester of the Kaibab Lodge said, “Our lodge hosts visitors from all over the country. Having these majestic wolves here would attract more tourists, which means increased revenues and potentially jobs at area businesses. What could make your visit even better than hearing the howl of a wolf?”
Steven Cundy, co-owner of The Wildland Trekking Company added, “I’ve seen what the wolves have done for Yellowstone. Tens of millions of dollars each year are brought into the region from people who want to see the wolves and spend money on lodging, food and outdoor activities. In Yellowstone the wolves also brought a variety of environmental benefits to the entire region. We want to be part of the success story of protecting this beautiful animal from the risk of extinction.”
The public comment period on the draft plan is open until August 29, 2017. Individuals may submit comments online at http://www.regulations.gov by entering FWS-R2-ES-2017-0036. By mail, please address a letter to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2017-0036, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
Emily Renn, the Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project said, “I’ve seen people from throughout the region step forward and ask that the Mexican gray wolves be brought here. When the scientists say the wolves should be here to have the best chance of stopping their extinction, we should pay attention. When businesses tell us the wolves can bring increased tourism and create jobs, we should pay attention. The draft plan falls very short and ignores the scientific studies that find there should be at least three connected populations of the wolves stretching into northern Arizona and New Mexico and southern Colorado and Utah.”
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