Thurs 7/19: Update – Date extended – Casual cruelty towards the young and defenseless is now a hallmark of the GOP. Stop this! Comments due Sept. 6th.

We originally published this on 5/31. Deadline was extended to Sept. 6th.

This is not hunting. This is the lazy and inhumane slaughter of key predator animals necessary to keep natural ecosystems in balance in areas where they should be safe.

The Interior Department is planning on easing regulations on “sport” hunting in Alaska national reserves. The new rule would allow bear cubs to be killed along with their mothers, caribou to be killed while swimming, and wolves and their pups to be killed in their dens. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, speaking next to a dead animal head, argues that this is merely a move to align federal regulations with Alaska state law, while others say that the rollback would allow for cruel and inhumane hunting practices. The proposed rule has a 60-day open comment period which IS COMING TO AN END THIS Friday, September 6th.
Rule being discussed is here. There are fewer than 75,000 comments! Please add more! Let’s make this a 6-figure response!

Comment here.
Check out other comments here for inspiration.

Comment: Please OPPOSE passage of this rule. (OK, this one is really, really, short.)

Comment: (Note: too many already exactly like this one!) As one of 1.3 million members and supporters of the National Parks Conservation Association, I strongly oppose the National Park Service’s attempt to roll back 2015 clarifications of existing park authority to protect bears and wolves on Alaska national preserves. Extreme sport hunting methods, like brown bear baiting and killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs in dens, don’t belong on national preserves in Alaska.

National parks and preserves in Alaska were set aside by Congress as special places where bears, wolves and other wildlife roam as part of a natural ecosystem. This is why I oppose the National Park Service’s proposal to allow extreme hunting practices.

I urge you to protect our last, best chance to make sure our children inherit a world with wild spaces and wildlife. Thank you.

Comment: I am truly shocked by this annoucement, and I cannot believe that this is the kind of thing that the citizens of this great country want to be know for and as one of 1.3 million members and supporters of the National Parks Conservation Association, I strongly oppose the National Park Service’s attempt to roll back 2015 clarifications of existing park authority to protect bears and wolves on Alaska national preserves. Extreme sport hunting methods, like brown bear baiting and killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs in dens, don’t belong on national preserves in Alaska. These practices do not belong anywhere in the United States on public or private land.

Comment: Rolling back regulations to protect bears, wolves, and coyotes from hunting practices that are at best Cowardly is plain stupid. There is no reasonable explanation for lifting this regulation other than allowing people who don’t have the decency to give animals a fighting chance to kill wildlife. If you can’t face an animal you are choosing to hunt on equal footing, you have no business hunting. And to the people at the department of the interior who proposed this; have you no shame? Cowards.

Comment: Cruel and harmful hunting methods like killing bear cubs and their mothers near dens have no place on our national preserves!

These federal lands are havens for wildlife and the National Park Service is mandated to manage these ecosystems in a manner that promotes conservation. This proposed rule, which would allow inhumane killing of our native carnivores in a misguided attempt to increase trophy hunting opportunities, is unlawful and must not be finalized.

So says animal rights lawyers and environmental protection groups and so say I, A VOTING CONSTITUENT! Revoking this rule is wrong, unnecessary and downright cruel. If you revoke, you will have blood on your hands!

Comment: You must not allow hunting of animals in these preserves. We must protect our wildlife and prohibit cruelty. Using dogs, and bait to lure innocent animals is so sickening beyond belief. This world has become so violent and immune to compassion and caring. Let these animals live free and safe and be a integral part of our planet. Show compassion and caring for all living beings and cancel this horrid plan. Let them live in peace and safety.

Comment: My family has traveled to Alaska and we enjoyed every minute of our time in Denali and Kenai Fords. Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Please, please, please do not allow hunting in any of our national parks. Preserve these parks and the animals that live in them for all to enjoy.

As one of 1.3 million members and supporters of the National Parks Conservation Association, I strongly oppose the National Park Service’s attempt to roll back 2015 clarifications of existing park authority to protect bears and wolves on Alaska national preserves. Extreme sport hunting methods, like brown bear baiting and killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs in dens, don’t belong on national preserves in Alaska.

National parks and preserves in Alaska were set aside by Congress as special places where bears, wolves and other wildlife roam as part of a natural ecosystem. This is why I oppose the National Park Service’s proposal to allow extreme hunting practices.

I urge you to protect our last, best chance to make sure our children inherit a world with wild spaces and wildlife. Thank you.

Comment:It’s been said that animals’ interests are being ignored because allowing their oppression is advantageous, and that will continue as long as people are permitted to get away with expressing the idea that only humans deserve consideration of their interests. All animals deserve to be left in peace and treated with respect. The proposed hunting and trapping rule must be stopped from ever becoming another assault on innocent animals. Good, decent people must do all they can to stop this ever more pervasive aggression toward other species.

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/alaska-wildlife-04-04-2017.php