As a supporter of Defenders of Wildlife and someone who takes great pride in the successful reintroduction of wolves to the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone Region, I am deeply concerned with your agency's actions to eliminate vital protections for this still-recovering population. We are a species that has reached a point where we are capable of caring for others instead of killing or ignoring; how can I as a member of this species stand by while you try to revert to such a primitive state of existance?

In particular, I am disturbed by your agency's support of rule changes that would allow wolves to be killed in Idaho and Wyoming even before these animals are removed from the list of federally protected threatened and endangered species.

I am also concerned with your agency's support for de-listing of gray wolves. Officials in Idaho and Wyoming have made clear that they intend to "manage" wolves at the lowest level permitted by law, a policy that in practice will likely result in the removal of two-thirds of the wolves in Wyoming and all but approximately 100 wolves in Idaho. This is an unacceptable number. For a species to thrive, 800 healthy, breeding members need to exist. You, sir, and your agency, are well on your way to removing from existence what might otherwise be our social equal.

Your agency is charged with protecting America's natural treasures and is accountable to the tens of thousands of people in the Northern Rockies and across the country who have spoken out against the proposal to de-list wolves. I sincerely hope that you will remember these facts as you consider your agency's responsibility to America's future generations.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Communication is a key point of civilization, is it not? Remember, wolves communicate too.