I AM OUTRAGED

Cottonwood Pack Tragedy The Cottonwood wolves of Yellowstone National Park became some of the latest victims of a flawed wolf delisting rule. Please sign our petition to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, urging him to withdraw his flawed delisting rule that removed vital protections for wolves in the northern Rockies region.

Dear Auntie-Nanuuq,

I have sad news. Yellowstone National Park’s famous Cottonwood Pack has just been destroyed -- all the adult wolves have been killed, and the surviving pups will likely die without the rest of their wolf family.

The Cottonwoods are just some of the latest victims of the federal government’s likely illegal decision to eliminate vital protections for our wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies. Unless we are successful in urging Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to reverse this bad decision, hundreds more wolves will be killed.

Please sign our petition and urge Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to immediately take action to restore protections for these amazing animals.

The Cottonwood wolves are not alone. They’re among the more than 60 wolves already killed in the region -- a disturbingly high number for a hunting season only weeks old.

I was there when the first wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, and I have personally guided Defenders members to watch the Cottonwood Pack. It is particularly heartbreaking to see one of America's greatest conservation victories slip from our grasp because of a policy mistake. But there is still time to correct it -- and if we act quickly, we can still save the lives of literally hundreds of wolves in the region.

Our wolves need your voice -- and the support of as many others as possible who care about the future of these magnificent animals.

Sign this important petition today. We will personally hand-deliver your signatures to the Department of the Interior as a powerful statement that America supports a lasting future for our wolves.

The next few weeks will be crucial for our wolves in this region. The truth is, the future of wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies is at a crossroads -- and it will take the voices of caring wildlife supporters like you to make a difference.

Last month, a federal judge ruled that we are likely to win our lawsuit to restore protections for these beloved wolves. But with the lives of hundreds of wolves at stake, we can’t wait for the final ruling on our case -- a ruling that will likely not come for many months.

Please sign our petition to Secretary Salazar today.

The Cottonwood wolves were not the first victims of the flawed delisting -- and they certainly won’t be the last. The time has come to correct the unacceptable error made by the Obama administration that continues to erode one of the greatest conservation victories of the last century. Please lend your voice to help save our wolves.

Together, we can ensure that wolves will be an enduring part of America.

Sincerely, Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. No new administration is immune from mistakes -- even big ones like this. We are strongly encouraging Obama's Interior Department to recognize their error and correct it immediately. But we need your help to make sure they know how important this is. Please sign our petition today.

P.S. If you would like to support our work to save wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and northern Rockies region, please donate online, or call 1-800-385-9712.