By JIM SECKLER
The Daily News
KINGMAN — The Mohave County supervisors postponed Monday deciding whether to become a cooperating or coordinating agency with the federal government on a Mexican gray wolf reintroduction plan.
The board decided to direct staff to find out if the county can be a coordinating instead of a cooperating agency with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan to reintroduce the Mexican wolf into Arizona and into a small section of Mohave County south of Interstate 40. The government estimates there are about 75 Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.
District 5 Sup. Steve Moss of Fort Mohave said being a coordinating agency with the federal government would allow the county to be part of the discussion. Moss also suggested joining other counties in hiring a geneticist to determine whether the wolves are pure breed or mixed with other animals.
* District 1 Sup. Gary Watson also said becoming a cooperating or coordinating agency and signing a memorandum of understanding with the government allows the county to be at the table in the discussion.
District 4 Sup. Joy Brotherton of Kingman opposed signing any memorandum or becoming a cooperating or coordinating agency saying it would not make any difference. She said other counties have to join together in opposing the plan.
The supervisors recently held a town hall taking public comment on the plan to re-introduce the Mexican wolf into the county. Most of the audience was local ranchers who complained of the loss of livestock and game such as elk to wolves as well as the wolves being a threat to humans.
Mohave County officials recently viewed two preliminary chapters of the Environmental Impact Statements. The EIS’ draft would not be released until late January 2014 and the final EIS would not be released until about January 2015.