Regarding: Humane Society of The United States position on the slaughter of the Profanity Peak wolf pack in Ferry County, Washington State
Wayne Pacelle Humane Society of The United States
From: Protect the Wolves® a Native American Religious Group
September 7th, 2016
Mr. Pacelle,
As a Native American Religious Group, we have expressed grave concerns (including reaching out to the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) at the suggestion of Senator Jon McCoy) and have submitted a cease and desist request to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regarding all lethal removal actions of wolves in Washington State until native American tribes are allowed representation on the Wolf Advisory Group. Cody Desautel, the Colville Tribal Natural Resources Department Representative has informed us that the tribe did not approve of WDFWs current wolf policy, nor did they condone the use of collars with which to perform lethal removal, and more specifically they do not support the current lethal removal of the Profanity Peak Pack related to current cattle depredation incidents. I would also like to let you know that our Tribal Chairmain Bill Iyall supports out position as well as Senator John McCoys.
We emphasize that we telephoned WDFW on July 19th and presented them with a viable solution to remove the Profanity Pack in a humane manner. However, WDFW failed to respond. We then left WDFW agency representative on this matter Mr. Donny Martorello a voicemail, which he did not reply to. In a final attempt to halt this egregious action we then emailed Mr. Martorello, but received no response.
Finally, on August 22nd Mr. Martorello asked Amaroq Weiss (Center for Biological Diversity) to call us to see if we were willing to accept his phone call. Mr. Martorello called later that evening, and once again we presented him with an alternative to slaughtering wolves from above. He turned it down, even after we explained that the lethal removal action was in direct violation of our treaty rights pertaining to our Native American Religious Beliefs. We are now feeling directly discriminated against.
We have been informed that there is currently an active, ground based hunt for the one surviving adult wolf and four young pups of the Profanity Peak pack. We still cannot comprehend how they shot one adult from the sky, after which they claim to have confirmed that it was a humane kill. However, Mr. Martorello stated in his weekly update on the culling that they were unable to find the wolves body. Mr. Parcelle, could you please clear this up for us?
We believe it is time organizations such as The Humane Society of The United States take a formal stand on the slaughter of these wolves, whether for or against it.
We’ve received numerous inquiries wondering why HSUS signed onto the Joint Conservation Wolf Advisory Group Statement that allowed for the “authorized removal” of the wolves. Our followers, as well as concerned regional residents have also asked why HSUS hasn’t made a clear, definitive public statement openly opposing the killing.
We understand that this is a complex issue, however if there is a formal public statement about why you support the killing, we have yet to see it.
It appears that this slaughter was scientifically unsupported and politically driven, especially after WDFW was given two alternative solutions. Even worse, it was invited by incredibly shortsighted, if not disingenuous, management by both the United States Forest Service (USFS) and WDFW. The following was stated on the record by WDFW Wolf Policy Lead Donny Martorello, “Salt licks for the cattle were placed right on the wolves’ den site, literally drawing cattle into the wolves’ den.” No mention was made of how long those salt blocks were present. He is also quoted as saying this of the Profanity Peak Pack: “Is that really the wolf population we want to repopulate the state with? Wolves that have demonstrated that behavior and see livestock as prey items.” Mr. Pacelle, it has been proven (see footnote 1) and there is a study by Public Lands and Grazing citing multiple sources confirming that the grazing of livestock in the wild will drive off more desirable prey such as deer and elk.
A prudent individual already knows that wolves will always be wolves, (especially after being baited) attempting to do what our “Creator” has taught them; to be the keystone apex predators shown to be essential to achieve balance in our wild ecosystems.
I grew up near where this slaughter is taking place, the “Colville National Forest”, which is considered to be the traditional homelands of our Colville Tribal Brothers. This is pristine, rugged land and some of the highest quality wolf habitat in the continental United States.
Additionally it is public land that belongs to us all. So we as a Native American Religious Group must ask, if wolves are not allowed to exist there, then where then can they exist?
Further and most respectfully, please consider this thought: Wildlife is Sacred to all Native American Tribes; the Wolf, the Grizzly and the Buffalo are as sacred to us as the Bible is to others.
Most Sincerely,
Roger Dobson Cowlitz Tribal Elder
Patricia Herman
Protect The Wolves®
Jimmy Stgoddard
Traditional Medicine Chief for the “Blackfoot Confederacy”
406-219-8690
CC: Director Unsworth, Wolf Policy Head Martorello WDFW
Zack Strong Natural Resource Defense Council
Nick Cady Cascadia
Greta Anderson Western Watershed
John R. Mellgren Western Environmental Law Center
Grazing Impacts 1http://www.publiclandsranching.org/htmlres/fs_cows_v_hunting.htm
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