Happy 60th Birthday, Defenders of Wildlife:

[pinto]

Dear Wildlife Supporter,

Sixty years ago today, Defenders of Wildlife was founded on the principle that our wildlife is worth protecting.

Since then, we’ve helped ensure passage of the Endangered Species Act, won the fight to return wolves to Yellowstone National Park and protect countless wild places and the wildlife that lives there.

To commemorate our anniversary, we’ve put together a partial list of some of the ways you’ve helped us save wolves and other wildlife over the last six decades… and the last sixty days:

Gray Wolves

A symbol of the wild, the gray wolf is once again an icon of Yellowstone National Park. But it didn’t happen overnight. Defenders led a decades-long battle to bring wolves back to Yellowstone, which culminated with their reintroduction in 1995.

Bald Eagles

The comeback of America’s national symbol is a true endangered species success story—and one Defenders helped write. Once nearly extinct, the Endangered Species Act has restored bald eagles to their former glory. When some in Congress attempted to dismantle the Endangered Species Act, Defenders fought back, leading efforts to protect the law that protects our bald eagles and other wildlife.

Dolphins

Countless dolphins—not to mention other marine mammals—were maimed or killed by driftnets used to capture tuna before Defenders led the successful fight in the 1980s and 1990s to ban large-scale driftnets on the high seas. The result: the “dolphin safe” label on tuna cans sold by companies that no longer used driftnets.


And we’re not slowing down now. In the last sixty days alone, your support has helped advance our work to save…

Wolves in Alaska and the American Southwest threatened with cruel and baseless elimination plans. Through your actions and crucial financial support, Defenders supporters like you helped us stop anti-wolf legislation in New Mexico and block Alaska’s gruesome, illegal wolf bounty plan.

California condors poisoned by the use of lead ammunition. With your support, legislation to reduce the use of lead ammunition passed a key California committee earlier this month. Lead poisoning remains one of the largest threats to successful condor recovery.

Brown bears threatened by expanded hunting near their home in Alaska’s McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and Refuge. Tens of thousands of Defenders supporters sent messages opposing a now-defeated proposal to increase hunting near these beloved bears’ home.

Cook Inlet’s imperiled beluga whales, a species that has all but vanished and is in dire need of protection under the Endangered Species Act. In the last several weeks, nearly 26,000 Defenders supporters spoke out in support of the protections, and last week the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reversed an earlier decision and proposed listing the imperiled Cook Inlet beluga whale as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Diamondback terrapins in Maryland, where over-harvesting has reduced their population by 75% in the past two decades. Yesterday, Governor Martin O’Malley signed a ban on the commercial harvest of these beloved turtles into law, after Defenders supporters sent thousands of messages and placed hundreds of calls to save Maryland’s “terps.”

As Defenders celebrates our 60th birthday, I want you to know that we remain committed to protecting this and other wildlife and sincerely appreciate your contribution to our work.

Again, thank you. The letters you send to decision-makers, the donations that you make and the time you volunteer are all essential to our success in protecting the natural legacy we’ll leave to future generations.

Best Regards,

signed

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife


P.S. One of our greatest accomplishments -- the return of wolves to the Greater Yellowstone area and Northern Rockies after hunting, poisoning and trapping eliminated them -- is at risk. The Bush/Cheney Administration has proposed eliminating vital protections for the wolves, despite plans in Idaho and Wyoming to kill most of the wolves within those states. Please take action today to save wolves!

http://www.defenders.org/

[Straight Shooter]

1. A great organization.

Happy Birthday, Defenders of Wildlife. :thumbsup:

[Wilderness Sportsman]

2. Happy Birthday indeed.

One of the good guys.