Help thank USFWS

[oneye]

https://www.change.org/p/happy-113th-anniversary-of-the-national-wildlife-refuge-system-help-us-thank-the-men-and-women-that-manage-america-s-national-wildlife-refuges?tk=gXp7Xw1hE1cW0roiCPwf3l4aK2igl21szpk2qBK4U8k&utm_source=supporter_signature_milestone_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=supporter_signatures_100&utm_term=supporter_signature_milestone_email

Here's a petition to thank the USFWS and celebrate our national refuge systems anniversary. Sign the petition and give credit and support to our wildlife refuge system and public land as a sportsmen. Also if you don't want emails from Chang.org uncheck the subscribe button before signing.

 

[roknHS]

I don't think I'll thank them for dumping wolves in Idaho..........dumbasses.

 

[oneye]

I don't think I'll thank them for dumping wolves in Idaho..........dumbasses.

What people like yourself fail to consider is that the USFWS is more on our side than that of the environmentalists. They just proposed the Grizzly be delisted and control turned back to the states. If you talk to USFWS biologists they will tell you wolves should be turned back to state managment and they have met recovery objectives and have well beyond exceeded them. Wolves have a place on the landscape, but environmental groups and those making big dollars off of lawsuits against the fish and wildlife service are keeping wolves on the shelf. Every time the USFWS try's to delist something or change managment they are plastered with lawsuits. Don't blame the USFWS employees for groups taking advantage of the system and stopping them from doing their job the way it should be done. Blame the broken system our politicians won't fix.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

The USFWS also has a big role in waterfowl production. They use millions of dollars from duck stamp purchases to protect and manage wetlands.

When I grew up in Eastern North Dakota, there was very little public land to hunt on...except for Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Those WPAs not only produced waterfowl, they provided us with a place to hunt and also played a huge role in flood control. Many of the local farmers were (and still are) tempted to drain their wetlands to maximize production. The USFWS offered a couple of alternatives. One, the USFWS paid them for not draining the wetlands. These were/are called drainage easements (not open to hunting). The farmer still owns the land and can do whatever he wants except drain the wetlands. Two, the USFWS bought acreage from willing sellers and turned the area into a WPA ... usually open to public hunting. There are hundreds of small (80 to 640 acre) WPAs throughout the midwest. Both of these programs were/are funded by duck stamp purchases. With all the duck stamps I have purchased in my lifetime, I am confident that I helped purchase of few WPA acres.

The USFWS is heavily funded by hunters, and we should be thankful for the work they do. They are fighting a difficult battle to protect our wetlands, especially in the Central Flyway, where the forces of profit and greed are lined up against them.

 

[Fieldmouse]

That is true regarding the duck stamps. I haven't been duck or goose in awhile but buying that stamp definitely helps create that habitat.