Last November a notice was filed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests made by the Humane Society regarding imports and exports of wildlife specimens. Obviously, the notice hasn’t been lost on hunters, who are concerned personal information could be made public.
The Humane Society is seeking reports that catalog wildlife imported and exported to and from the United States, which is currently a litigious situation between the Society and the FWS. Because these reports are required for hunting trophies, there is legitimate concern personal privacy might be violated if the FWS releases information.
However, the National Rifle Association has contacted the FWS, who confirmed it has no intention of releasing information on private individuals—it only seeks information from business entities identified in the importation reports. Any business impacted can file a “detailed written statement” objecting the information release, but the deadline for filing is Nov. 22.
