Say USFWS subversively provided wolves for release 30 miles from border
SHAR PORIER | HERALD/REVIEW
BISBEE — Saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consider the concerns of county residents in the Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction program comment period, the county Board of Supervisors requested a public meeting be held.
Supervisors Ann English and Richard Searle approved the letter on the consent agenda during Tuesday’s meeting. Pat Call was at a breakfast with U.S.Sen. Jeff Flake.
“The county originally requested a public meeting be held in Cochise County in July 2013 and is dismayed to hear that the only public meeting will be held 300 miles away. It is not practical for people to travel that far for a meeting, especially in light of the fact they may only receive three minutes of time to present their issues,” the letter notes. “A meeting in the county would allow those from much of the area south of I-10 to have the opportunity to provide much needed input.”
USFWS was asked to hold the public hearing in the county at least 60 days prior to the close of the comment period to allow adequate time for comments.
A public meeting was held in Pine Top, Monday, Aug. 11, which is 287 miles away, and one will be held today in Truth or Consequences, N.M., 289 miles away. No more are scheduled, according to Cathy Gordon, with the USFWSpublic relations office.
The supervisors also requested an extension of the comment period by an additional 120 days past the current Sept. 23 deadline so residents can provide constructive comments.
Ever since the USFWS decided to reintroduce the wolf species to parts of Arizona and New Mexico, the supervisors have been at loggerheads with the federal agency.
There is much concern over a number of Mexican gray wolves that have been “subversively released” by the USFWS to the Mexican government just 30 miles south of the border with Cochise County. Some wolves could migrate up into the county, putting the stock of ranchers and the pets of residents at risk, making input from county residents and ranchers essential to the process, the letter continues.
“These Mexican wolves that come north from Old Mexico gain immediate, endangered species status once they cross into Cochise County,” the letter states. “If the proposed action is implemented, additional wolves are expected to be located in Cochise County. These wolves jeopardize the economic and social stability of the citizens of Cochise County and for this reason, we deserve to be heard and ask questions.”
In addition to sending the letter to the USFWS, copies were mailed to Sen. John McCain, Sen. Jeff Flake and state Sen. Gail Griffin and state representatives.
MEXICAN GRAY WOLF RE–POPULATION ESTIMATED COSTS SINCE 1977
USFWS – $20 million spent
Arizona Game and Fish – $2.735 million
Total with all other agencies – $31.558 million
From theUSFWS website: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/MW_Project_Costs_to_Date.pdf
CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of March 2014, the collared population consisted of 48 wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among 14 packs and two single wolves.
mexicanwolves.org.
For more information on Mexican gray wolves, visit the website: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/wolf/faq.shtml#a11.
To learn about the proposed plan and to comment, visit the website: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FWS-R2-ES-2013-0056.