One might imagine that an agency called “Wildlife Services” would take on a supportive role in safeguarding wildlife. Think again. Often dubbed “the Killing Agency,” this branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has had hackles raised among members of wildlife conservation communities for years and now thanks to a recent three part article in The Sacramento Bee, some staggering facts about this agency are being revealed to the general public. According to WildEarth Guardians, the agency “spent nearly $1 billion to kill nearly 23 million animals using aerial guns, poisons, traps, snares, and hounds, purportedly to protect agriculture and other private interests as part of a grossly ineffective and wasteful program.” WildEarth Guardians also charges that the agency’s wildlife extermination programs are illegal and yesterday filed suit to put an end to them. “Wildlife Services relies upon antiquated studies in order to justify its wildlife-killing activities,” said Ashley Wilmes, staff attorney for WildEarth Guardians, “and we want it to shut down its lethal operations—particularly those that are conducted in designated Wilderness Areas.” Kudos to The Sacramento Bee for their investigation of Wildlife Services and to WildEarth Guardians for standing up for the wildlife, environment, and communities that are threatened by the agency’s practices.

Here is a link to The Sacramento Bee’s three part story: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/28/4450678/the-killing-agency-wildlife-services.html#storylink=cpy

To learn more about WildEarth Guardians and how to support their work, please follow this link: http://www.wildearthguardians.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7625&news_iv_ctrl=1194