New Mexico Legislators Call For Stronger Wolf Recovery Plan
Arizona and Utah Business Leaders Also Support Wolves
Twenty-one New Mexico state legislators sent a letter this week to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, calling for a stronger recovery plan for the endangered Mexican wolf.
FWS collected public comments on a draft recovery plan for Mexican wolves until August 29. The agency has until November 2017 to complete an updated recovery plan, as ordered by a federal court.
The legislators, representing districts throughout the state, criticized the plan as "fatally flawed." The letter calls for a higher population target, a larger recovery area, and more connected populations, especially north of I-40.
The legislators write that the current draft plan, by contrast, is "politically-driven"and ignores the best available science, placing arbitrary, repressive caps on population and area.
This comes on the heels of a letter from business leaders in Arizona and Utah calling for more wolf releases in the Grand Canyon area, citing economic benefits of eco-tourism.
A final recovery plan is expected in November 2017.
