We need you to speak up for Wilderness in Wyoming, where the Forest Service is proposing to issue permits for cattle grazing in three vacant allotments in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, plus an adjacent allotment located between the Gros Ventre and Bridger Wildernesses, all within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Elk Ridge Complex Rangleland Supplementation includes more than 13,000 acres in the Gros Ventre. This is the only public comment opportunity, so please take action by the June 25 deadline. The Gros Ventre and Bridger Wildernesses are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Located southeast of Grand Teton National Park, the area is critical habitat for native wildlife such as wolves, lynx, wolverines, and grizzly bears. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already authorized the killing of up to 72 grizzlies in adjacent grazing allotments in the National Forest, and the last thing grizzlies need is more potential conflicts with cattle. In addition to impacts to wildlife, cattle grazing could also do extensive damage to important riparian areas, harm aquatic life, and spread invasive weeds. And, grazing is fundamentally at odds with Wilderness and the Wilderness Act’s mandate that Wilderness remain untrammeled. The Forest Service should protect the Gros Ventre and Bridger-Teton Wildernesses and their wildlife by permanently closing all four vacant grazing allotments instead of filling them. Please take action by June 25. We encourage you to write in your own words, but consider including the following points: |
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- I urge you to protect the Gros Ventre Wilderness and its wildlife by permanently closing the Tosi Creek, Elk Ridge, and Lime Creek allotments, as well as the adjacent Rock Creek allotment.
- According to the Forest Plan, vacant allotments are only to be filled under very limited conditions. Such conditions aren’t being met in this plan to open these four allotments.
- Wildlife organizations paid the permittees to vacate the four allotments to protect native wildlife, and none of these should be filled with cattle.
- Cattle grazing could cause conflicts with wildlife, including grizzlies. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already authorized the killing of up to 72 grizzlies in adjacent grazing allotments in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the last thing the great bear needs is more potential conflicts with cattle.
- Cattle grazing could also do extensive damage to important riparian areas, soils, and vegetation, harm aquatic life, and spread invasive weeds.
- Grazing is fundamentally at odds with Wilderness and the Wilderness Act’s mandate that Wilderness remain untrammeled.
- The Forest Service should protect the Gros Ventre and its wildlife by permanently closing the vacant Tosi Creek, Elk Ridge, Lime Creek, and Rock Creek allotments.
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