U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines slammed Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for continuing to ignore the science and politicize gray wolf management during a Senate Energy Subcommittee hearing this week. Despite available science and data showing that the gray wolf populations are strong and healthy, the current law and the State of Montana’s proven track record of gray wolf management, Haaland wrote an opinion piece earlier this week threatening to circumvent Montana’s authority to manage the species.
Daines called on the Department’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Shannon Estenoz, to listen to the law and science and not follow suit with Haaland’s effort to politicize gray wolf management.
To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE.
“The recovery of the gray wolf is a success story, but the difficult and politicized transition to state management has not been. If you are serious in recognizing ‘decades of hard work by states’ and others, you will promote, rather than disparage, the state authority now that its time has come. The respect of Montana’s demonstrated ability to sustain a healthy wolf population for over a decade is the true mark of success. So, thank you for allowing me to share these comments at the close. I urge you not to allow this Administration to undermine that legacy for political, or for partisan gain,” Daines said.
To listen to Daines’ full remarks, click HERE.
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Contact: Rachel Dumke, Katie Schoettler