Chronology of wolf recovery program
A chronology of significant events related to the Mexican gray wolf recovery program:
1976 _ Mexican wolf listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
1977-1980 _ Five wolves captured in Mexico to establish a captive breeding program.
1982 _ Mexican wolf recovery plan completed with goal to maintain captive breeding program and re-establish 100 wolves within their historic range.
1996 _ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases final environmental impact statement.
1997 _ Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt rules in favor of Fish and Wildlife reintroducing captive-raised Mexican wolves in eastern Arizona within the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area; designates released wolves and their offspring as a nonessential population.
1998 _ Fish and Wildlife releases first Mexican wolves into the wild.
1998 _ New Mexico Cattle Growers Association sues Fish and Wildlife, alleging violations of federal laws in implementing the reintroduction project.
1999 _ Courts rule Fish and Wildlife complied with laws; lawsuit dismissed.
2001 _ Fish and Wildlife Service completes three-year review. Scientists recommend program continue, with modifications.
2003 _ Coalition of Arizona and New Mexico counties files suit, alleging Fish and Wildlife failed to consider impacts of hybridization or prepare supplemental environmental impact statement and violated the Freedom of Information Act by withholding documents.
2004 _ Fish and Wildlife and oversight committee cooperators begin Blue Range reintroduction project five-year review; draft reports released to public for review and comment in December.
2005 _ Courts rule in favor of Fish and Wildlife in lawsuit by Arizona and New Mexico Coalition of Counties; lawsuit dismissed.
2005 _ Adaptive Management Oversight Committee completes Mexican wolf Blue Range reintroduction project five-year review, which includes 37 recommendations for improving management of wolf reintroduction project; many would require changes to 1997 rule.
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Information from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service