July 2025 Newsletter

“In times of crisis, we must all decide again and again whom we love.”

Frank O’Hara’s quiet plea in Meditations in an Emergency has never felt more urgent.

This summer, we are surrounded by unraveling crisis—neighbors and friends disappearing at the hands of masked state agents, violence against protesters in Los Angeles and across the U.S., the deepening horrors of war and genocide in the Middle East, deadly flooding in Texas, the worst spending bill in American history and an administration dismantling democracy and scapegoating those already marginalized to demolish the very frameworks that offer us a path to a more humane and inclusive society.

These are not isolated tragedies. They are all symptoms of a deeper sickness: a system that thrives on domination and division, that devalues life—human and more-than-human alike.

At Wildlife for All, we often discuss that how we treat wildlife reflects how we treat each other. As Albert Schweitzer warned, “Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives.” The devaluation of some lives—whether wolves, Palestinians, protesters, or entire communities—follows the same moral logic: one that treats life as expendable when it is inconvenient to power.

When cruelty becomes normalized in one realm, it spreads. The same logic used to justify the destruction of wolves, bears, and wild places also underpins the disregard for human lives—especially those most marginalized. That’s why Wildlife for All launched the Courage Campaign—to stand against fear-based authoritarianism and build a new future rooted in care, compassion, and collective power.

Because the opposite of domination isn’t passivity—it’s love. And love, in times like these, takes courage. The courage to speak out, to resist cruelty in all its forms, to imagine new ways of living together that are rooted in care and reciprocity. The courage to reform broken systems and rebuild them in the image of justice—not just for people, but for all beings who share this planet.

This campaign is about more than policy reform. It’s about reclaiming our moral imagination. It’s about refusing to harden in the face of harm. It’s about being brave enough to love—wildly, wisely, and without apology.

So today, and tomorrow, and again the day after that, this is our invitation to you: join us in deciding, again and again, whom we love. Let our answer always be: we love life.

All life.

In solidarity,

Michelle

What We’ve Been Up To

Volunteer Spotlight: Al Palmer + New Webpages!

We’re thrilled to recognize longtime volunteer Al Palmer this month for his invaluable help in revamping several pages on our website as well as keeping the site up-to-date. From simplifying navigation to highlighting new content about our mission, Al’s dedication has helped make our online presence more effective and accessible. A huge thank you, Al!

“Wolf Emergencies” and the Growing Backlash Against Carnivores
In an alarming trend, at least five New Mexico counties—Catron, Socorro, Sierra, Chaves, and Cibola—have passed emergency declarations related to wolves, pressuring Governor Lujan Grisham to intervene against the endangered Mexican gray wolf recovery program. Meanwhile, Cochise County in Arizona is considering a similar resolution, and a state-level effort in Arizona is pushing to federally delist the Mexican wolf. Read our joint press release to learn more about this issue.

Sadly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department—removed two endangered Mexican gray wolves, Llave and Wonder, along with their pups, from Cochise County Arizona at the end of May after months of politically motivated, inflated reports of livestock losses and intense pressure from anti-wolf voices. One pup was killed during the operation. Worse, meaningful efforts to promote coexistence were sidelined in favor of drastic and avoidable removals.

These actions rely heavily on fear-based narratives and misinformation, falsely claiming exploding wolf populations and public safety risks—even though wolf numbers remain small and their impact on livestock is limited. This is part of a broader wave of political attacks on the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves, grizzlies, and other carnivores. Wherever these attacks occur, Wildlife for All and partners will be there to speak truth to power and stand up for wildlife.

What's Coming Up

Stay tuned for next month’s coalition call, where we’ll discuss how Wildlife for All is preparing for this new phase in the war on wolves—and how our state-level governance work can push back against these escalating threats. If you’re not currently a part of our coalition, we’ll update you when there are actions to take to speak up for wolves and other imperiled wildlife. If you’d like to join our coalition, email us at info@wildlifeforall.us.

Option 1: Meet Athena Mason, Our New Digital Organizer!

We’re excited to welcome Athena Mason to the Wildlife for All team as our new Digital Organizer! Athena brings a powerhouse mix of grassroots organizing, political strategy, and coalition-building experience.

With a background spanning Planned Parenthood, the Colorado Democratic Party, and local housing justice coalitions, Athena has trained hundreds of volunteers, managed large-scale petition campaigns, and led successful community outreach and fundraising initiatives. Her blend of field organizing savvy, systems thinking, and regenerative facilitation will help grow and strengthen our movement.

Please join us in welcoming Athena as she helps expand our digital presence and activate new audiences for wildlife and democracy reform!

Option 2: Big News Coming Soon: Our New Digital Organizer

We’re in the final stages of welcoming a new Digital Organizer to the Wildlife for All team! This role is a big leap forward in our organizing power—helping us grow our movement, build deeper engagement with our members and volunteers, and coordinate actions in support of wildlife governance reform.

Stay tuned—we’ll be introducing them and sharing more about how they’ll help you get involved in the coming weeks!

They’re nervous—for good reason

ICYMI: Wildlife for All was recently called out by a national trophy hunting group—twice.

Wildlife for All was recently singled out by the Sportsmen’s Alliance—not once, but twice. First with a full page in their 2023 annual report, and again very recently in a fearmongering article about carnivore conservation. We take it as a compliment.

They’re scared. And they should be.

But this story isn’t just about Wildlife for All—it’s about you. It means the movement we’re building is working. It means they see the writing on the wall: that people across the country like you are demanding wildlife policy rooted in science, inclusion, and ecological justice—not outdated special interests. That shift scares those who’ve long held power behind closed doors.

We’re proud to be with you as part of a growing chorus of advocates, scientists, and everyday citizens who are rewriting the rules—together.

Their fear is proof that change is possible—and already underway. So while they double down on misinformation and fear tactics, we’ll stay focused on building a system that works for all life.

Will you join us? [Support this movement →]