20
Oct
In the News: Mexican Gray Wolf in Arizona Relocated to New Mexico
PHOENIX — Federal authorities have removed a male Mexican gray wolf from a pack in eastern Arizona and relocated him to a service facility in New Mexico.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said Friday that the wolf from the Paradise Pack was darted in a helicopter operation before being transported in a non-lethal removal process.
Officials initially authorized the capture last month, saying several livestock kills were linked to two alpha wolves in the pack — a male and a female.
Efforts to capture those wolves were put on hold during the recent government shutdown.
The Mexican wolf was added to the federal endangered species list in 1976.
The 15-year effort to reintroduce them in New Mexico and Arizona has stumbled due to legal battles, illegal shootings, politics and other problems.
This article was published in the news sources listed below. Please write letters to the Editors responding to this article.
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Please Act to Save the Lobo!
There are three ways you can help these critically endangered Mexican wolves:
1. Write a letter to the editor responding to this article
2. Make calls to ask the US Fish and Wildlife Service to keep these three wolves in the wild where they belong.
3. Submit comments on the USFWS proposal that threatens the survival and recovery of Mexican wolves.
2. Make calls to ask the US Fish and Wildlife Service to keep these three wolves in the wild where they belong.
3. Submit comments on the USFWS proposal that threatens the survival and recovery of Mexican wolves.
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1. Write a letter to the editor
The letters to the editor page is one of the most widely read, influential parts of the newspaper. One letter from you can reach thousands of people and will also likely be read by decision-makers. Tips and talking points for writing your letter are below, but please write in your own words, from your own experience. Do not try to use all of these; rather focus on a few key points.
Albuquerque Journal — New Mexico
Submit your letter to the Editor here.
AZ Central — The Arizona Republic online – Arizona
Submit your letter to the Editor here.
Santa Fe New Mexican — New Mexico
Submit your letter to the Editor here.
The Republic – Indiana
Submit your letter to the Editor here.
Letter Writing Tips & Talking Points
These wolves should be kept in the wild.
- Wolves are social animals that rely on family members in hunting and pup rearing. Trapping or darting these wolves, and removing them forever, will disrupt their family pack structure, which research has shown leads to more livestock issues, not fewer.
- Trapping or darting will place these wolves and all of the wolves around them in danger, since capture carries a high risk of accidental death or injury.
- Since 1998, the government has removed 54 wolves from the wild. Most were trapped and 13 were shot by predator-control agents. Taking more wolves from the small, critically endangered wild population is unacceptable.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service should release many more wolves, not remove them.
- At last count, just 75 Mexican wolves including three breeding pairs survived in the wild, making them the most endangered mammal in North America, and the most endangered wolf in the world.
- If the USFWS is truly concerned about the growth of the population and its genetic health, the answer is more releases of captive wolves, not more wild wolves lost to risky trapping operations and permanent captivity.
- Wolves are a benefit to the West and are essential to restoring the balance of nature.
- Polling shows an overwhelming majority of Arizona and New Mexico voters support Mexican wolf recovery.
Removing or killing critically endangered Mexican gray wolves is not the solution to livestock conflicts.
- There are many solutions to conflicts between livestock and wolves, but there are very few Mexican gray wolves.
- Livestock businesses on public lands are reimbursed for losses and can receive government and non-profit assistance for non-lethal proactive measures to avoid depredation-they have a responsibility to do so.
- Deterrents to livestock conflicts are the solutions, not removing more endangered Mexican wolves from their homes.
Make sure you:
- Thank the paper for publishing the article.
- Include something about who you are and why you care: E.g. “I am a mother, outdoors person, teacher, business owner, scientific, religious, etc.”
- Provide your name, address, phone number and address. The paper won’t publish these, but they want to know you are who you say you are.
- Keep your letter brief.
2. Make calls to ask the US Fish and Wildlife Service to keep these three wolves in the wild where they belong.
Talking points, phone numbers and other contact information are here.
Talking points, phone numbers and other contact information are here.
3. Submit comments on the USFWS proposal that threatens the survival and recovery of Mexican wolves.
At the same time the USFWS is attempting to trap these wolves, it is taking comments on proposal to change Mexican wolf management. Part of the proposal could help get more wolves into the wild, but most of it threatens the Mexican wolf’s continued survival and recovery. Your comments are needed to help lobos survive beyond the current crisis. Talking points and information on how to submit your comments are here.
Thank you for everything you do to save these beautiful, intelligent animals from extinction!
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