Wilderness areas are intended to be places where humans are visitors who do not remain, where nature and natural systems are permitted to run their course. Similarly, Research Natural Areas are places of particular biological interest where "unmodified conditions" are to be maintained.

But the Forest Service has proposed to stray from these fundamental principles and dramatically increase the ways that wolves, coyotes, cougars, bears, foxes and other predators can be trapped, shot and poisoned in Wilderness areas and Research Natural Areas. Current rules require that wilderness values not be impaired by such activities, and expressly prohibit poisons like M-44s. The current rules also allow predator killing in Wilderness areas only in very limited circumstances, such as to protect human safety.

In stark contrast, the new rules would require predator control to meet undefined "wildlife management" objectives, and they would also permit local working groups to formulate those objectives – even in Wilderness areas! This would put groups that are dominated by the livestock industry – and hostile to both Wilderness and predators – squarely in the driver's seat when it comes to predator control. Wilderness areas would be opened to expensive and ecologically devastating aerial gunning and poisoning of predators who belong in Wilderness areas and are a big part of what makes them so special.

Target address for letters:
Director, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Resources
U.S. Forest Service
201 14th Street
Washington , DC 20250
(202) 205-1145
PDM@fs.fed.us