HUNTING & TRAPPING ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
	Although the National Wildlife Refuge System was established to preserve species and the environment, Congress and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have been increasingly opening refuges to hunting and trapping.  Currently, more than half of all refuges allow trapping, hunting and other activities aimed at killing wildlife.  The U.S. FWS has developed a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which deems recreational hunting and trapping compatible with the purpose and goals of the refuge and even recommends that these cruel activities be allowed to continue or increase.   As required by federal law, the FWS is accepting comments on the CCP until January 17, 2006.  This comment period is open to ALL residents, not just those in Illinois (since this is an issue regarding federal lands).  Please take this opportunity to tell the FWS that these hunting and trapping have no place on federal lands, funded by taxpayers’ dollars.  Send comments to: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Attn: Draft EIS Comment 8588 Route 148 Marion, IL 62959 conwr-ccp@fws.gov To view the proposed CCP and EIS, CLICK HERE. For more information about this issue, including a sample letter to, CLICK HERE. To find out if National Wildlife Refuges in your area allow hunting and trapping, http://www.refuges.org/. For more information about the cruel practice of trapping, visit www.bancrueltraps.com.