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Protecting Wildlife from Poachers

June 30, 2008


	©The HSUS
	Opening up parks and refuges to guns would harm wildlife on an unknown scale.

Unique animals are as much a part of our national parks as glaciers, geysers and the Grand Tetons. These parks and refuges not only embody the American archetype of complete wildness; they provide some of the last remaining protected places for many of the country's wildlife.

Each year park rangers play host to millions of families as they hope to catch a glimpse of roaming rocky-mountain sheep, grizzlies, bison and elk—but these officers know cameras aren't the only thing some individuals hope to aim at these majestic animals.

Poaching is a continual threat, and around the bend lies an unprecedented challenge to protecting wildlife against these callous profiteers.


©The HSUS
Many thousands of our members wrote letters protesting the idea of guns in parks.

Under pressure from the leaders of the National Rifle Association (NRA), The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are considering a proposed rule change which would allow visitors to carry loaded and concealed weapons in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.

Allowing loaded weapons in National Parks and Refuges would not only be burdensome for rangers and dangerous for visitors; it would be deadly for wildlife.

Headaches and Worse

Unfortunately, poaching in National Parks has reached epidemic proportions, and with declining resources, rangers are struggling to stay one step ahead of poachers.

Right now, the presence of a loaded weapon is one of the only clues available for rangers in discovering and prosecuting those who illegally kill wildlife.

Allowing loaded weapons in National Parks and Refuges will put wildlife—and possibly park visitors—in the crosshairs, as well as create even more law enforcement challenges for already overtaxed park rangers (because national park borders often cross state lines, rangers would have to take into account varying concealed weapon state laws).

The Humane Society of the United States is joined by a diverse and large chorus of voices raising serious concerns about the proposed amendment to the existing regulation, including the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.

Thousands and thousands of Humane Society of the United States' members wrote to the federal government in opposition to this effort, and The HSUS hand-delivered the letters.

People have sent a strong message that National Parks and Refuges are no place for loaded weapons. Now it is up to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to keep these national treasures safe for wildlife.