Number: 2010-09
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Refuge System protects over 150 million acres and includes 551 National Wildlife Refuges in every state and U.S. territory; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Refuge System is essential to the conservation of fish, wildlife and plants in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation has long supported professional scientific management of wildlife resources and their habitat on National Wildlife Refuges; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the importance of trapping on National Wildlife Refuges for predator control, for threatened and endangered species and migratory bird protection, habitat management, facilities protection, research, surveys, monitoring, public safety and health, feral animal control, population management, disease control, recreation, commerce and subsistence; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation has long recognized trapping as a legitimate recreational pursuit and a useful wildlife management tool; and
WHEREAS, periodically state and federal regulations are proposed that are not based on principles of professional scientific management and would directly or indirectly prohibit or severely restrict trapping on National Wildlife Refuges;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled April 8-10, 2010, in Houston, Texas, reaffirms trapping to be a legitimate recreational pursuit and a useful scientifically-based wildlife management practice; and supports hunting, fishing and trapping on lands of the National Wildlife Refuge System when such activities are scientifically-regulated and are shown to be compatible with the primary purpose of these lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation opposes governmental regulations that would directly or indirectly prohibit or severely restrict trapping on National Wildlife Refuges if such regulations are not based on principles of professional scientific management.