Sierra County wants ranchers to be allowed to kill wolves
Associated Press
May 13, 2002 07:30:00
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. – Sierra County commissioners want ranchers to
be allowed to kill any endangered Mexican gray wolf on their property more
than five days after federal game managers have been asked to remove it.
The commission also wants ranchers to be able to veto the release of
wolves near them.
The County Commission recently approved a “white paper” asking the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to make changes in a program to reintroduce
wolves in New Mexico and Arizona.
The county wants ranchers also to be allowed to kill wolves that attack
livestock, work dogs or pets and wants the federal government to
compensate ranchers, hunters, campers and hikers for loss of
opportunities, increased costs of doing business and lost revenue because
of wolf reintroduction.
The county also wants ranchers and sporting interests to have the right to
approve wolf release sites within 10 miles. Ranchers also could designate
a three-month period around calving season when wolves could not be
released within five miles of their operations.
Program manager Brian Kelly said he will consider the county’s position.
“I have never hidden the fact that we will work with local counties if
they want to work with us,” Kelly said.
But he said giving ranchers broader rights to kill wolves requires a
sustainable wild population first.
The program already lets ranchers on private or tribal land kill wolves in
the act of attacking livestock.
Defenders of Wildlife reimburses ranchers for cows killed by wolves in
reintroduction efforts throughout the West, generally paying about 20
percent more than the market value.
Kelly said the economic impact of wolf reintroduction in other areas has
been overwhelmingly positive.
Since the federal reintroduction program started in 1998, 11 packs have
been released in Arizona and New Mexico. At least six wolves have been
shot, three have been struck by vehicles, several had parvo virus, one was
killed by a mountain lion, one was killed by a snake and several have
disappeared.
Killing a Mexican gray wolf is a violation of the Federal Endangered
Species Act and state laws. Violations carry criminal penalties of up to
$25,000 and six months in jail.