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Protect wildlife in the Interior Appropriations bill!

The House has passed their annual Interior Appropriations bill, which funds the U.S. Department of the Interior for fiscal year 2025, and it's bad news for wildlife. The bill contains language removing Endangered Species Act protections for already vulnerable species, such as gray wolves and grizzlies, that rely on the ESA for their continued recovery. In addition, the bill includes several provisions that would undermine federal rulemaking and restrict the agency's ability to propose regulations aimed at improving wildlife recovery, federal land management, and fighting against pollutants. We need to make sure this dangerous language against wildlife is NOT included in the final bill anticipated to be voted on in March.

Americans are rightly proud of the remarkable diversity and appeal of the wildlife species across the country, and for years, we have generally all agreed to protect such species through every available means. But this bill aims to eviscerate those tools we have used for years to successfully protect our nation's wildlife and biodiversity. That is why it is crucial that we continue to fight against any attempts that could cause irreparable harm to our delicate ecosystems and the species that live within them by ensuring these dangerous provisions do not advance any further in the appropriations process.

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators and urge them to oppose any and all anti-wildlife riders in the annual appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Department of Interior. You can find his or her contact information here. You can simply say, “As your constituent, I urge you to oppose anti-wildlife riders like those removing protections from gray wolves and grizzly bears in final version of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. We must continue to do all we can to protect our nation's wildlife and biodiversity.”

Calling is so important. Please do not skip this crucial step. Then, personalize and submit to send a follow-up message.

This action alert is for U.S. residents.

Your Message

Subject*

Dear Legislator,

As your constituent, I urge you to oppose anti-wildlife riders like those removing protections from gray wolves and grizzly bears in final version of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

The House FY 2025 Interior bill contains several policy riders that could be disastrous to already vulnerable species, such as gray wolves and grizzlies, by removing federal Endangered Species Act protections critical to their recovery. Since its signing in 1973, the ESA has been our nation’s strongest tool to fight extinction by providing critical national protections to recuperate severely threatened plants and animals. The success of this landmark bipartisan legislation, which has saved approximately 99% of its listed species from extinction, is based on the belief that listing and delisting decisions should remain scientific, not political. By delegating this authority to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior, the ESA requires that decisions about the very survival of species are based on the best available science.

As apex carnivores, gray wolves and grizzly bears are species particularly likely to be imperiled due to their direct killing by trophy hunters and trappers along with other ongoing threats such as loss of habitat and food sources. This is exacerbated by the fact that they have long reproductive cycles and produce relatively few offspring. Over the years, large native carnivore species have shown a need for more federal protection, not less. Additionally, as dozens of U.S. and international scientists have documented, the loss of top native carnivore species results in trophic downgrading and the subsequent disruption of delicate ecosystem functions.

The House FY 2025 Interior bill also includes several provisions that would undermine federal rulemaking and restrict the agency’s ability to propose regulations aimed at improving wildlife recovery, federal land management, and fighting against pollutants. These include efforts to block scientifically backed rules such as the efforts to strengthen the ESA and regulate the use of toxic lead ammo and tackle on federal lands. The bill would also block FWS’ proposed “National Wildlife Refuge System; Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health,” which has had tremendous support from wildlife protection groups, veterinary experts, and the scientific community.

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