With the hunt scheduled to start two weeks from now on Nov. 3, time is running low for the Minnesota wolves. The lawsuit filed by Howling for Wolves and the Center for Biological Diversity was denied by the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Oct. 10. Right along with Collette Adkins Giese, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, and Maureen Hackett, founder of Howling for Wolves, I was deeply disappointed. This news was a serious blow for all wolf protection advocates. Five days later on Oct. 15, Howling for Wolves and the Center for Biological Diversity asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to stop the hunting and trapping season this fall. Here is an excerpt from that press release:
“I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize what the Court of Appeals did not – that the shooting and trapping of 400 wolves is an irreversible harm caused by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,” said Collette Adkins Giese, a Minneapolis-based attorney with the Center. “Rushing to open a hunt this fall, the DNR slammed the door on meaningful public participation in a controversial management decision about wolf hunting and trapping. Only by stopping the hunt can we ensure that these state officials follow the law.”
As someone who has seen a Minnesota Supreme Court hearing, I know it will be a tough crowd to sway. Wolf supporters can only hope the Minnesota Supreme Court will reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals. Howling for Wolves also co-hosted Duluth’s very first Wolf Walk on Oct. 20. The walk was a success with over 100 people showing up to support the public opposition to the wolf hunt. I was happy to see so many people there to walk for the wolves. The rally and march went from the Duluth City Hall to Lake Superior Plaza West and back again. The speakers – including Howling for Wolves president and founder Maureen Hackett – did a wonderful job, and the Little Horse Drum Group from the Duluth Native American community gave a beautiful performance. The event really was powerful.
Some people have asked me, “Why fight for a cause that’s already dead?” To those people I answer that these animals are too precious to be killed, hunted, and trapped for sport. It is clear that so many others are willing to speak and fight for this animal. Wolf protection activists will not stop fighting to save this once endangered species.
BY JESSICA NOOR noor0037@d.umn.edu
photo originally posted on flickr by caninest