Arizona Daily Sun (Original) Letter to the Editor Posted May 31, 2015 by Brittney Kay Walsh
To the editor:
Thank you for your article in Thursday's paper about cross-fostering wolves. I have a Masters of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Since returning home to Flagstaff, I have followed the recovery of Mexican gray wolves. It seems that the Arizona Game and Fish Commission is hyping the risky and complex technique of cross-fostering as a substitute for, instead of an addition to, simply releasing more wolves, which is greatly needed.
Countless studies show that wolves are an important part of their ecosystems. They help everything from controlling coyote populations and keeping deer and elk herds healthy to improving the overall health of the Southwest's rivers and streams. Just as the return of gray wolves to Yellowstone has helped restore balance to its lands and waters.
I am appalled to find that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has been stalling on a science-based recovery plan for over 30 years, intends to wait another two-three years to complete a plan. The agency must move forward with the release of the draft plan it already has, based on the work of the science planning subgroup, for public review now. The future of our ecosystems depend on wolves.
BRITTNEY KAY WALSH
Flagstaff
