No.
300, May 2, 2002
RESTORING
THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF
- AGENCIES
FAIL TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WOLVES
- TWO
NEW PACKS IN GILA WILDERNESS
- AGGRESSIVE
REMOVAL OF WOLVES FROM WILD
- ALBUQUERQUE
JOURNAL SUPPORTS DIRECT RELEASE OF WOLVES INTO THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
- FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FAILS TO IMPLEMENT SCIENTISTS? RECOMMENDATIONS
- CENTER
OFFERS REWARD IN WOLF KILLINGS
- WHAT
YOU CAN DO
AGENCIES
FAIL TO ACT ON BEHALF OF WOLVES
The Center notified the
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management on 4-17-02 that they are in violation
of the Endangered Species Act for failing to take measures that ensure livestock
carcasses are removed from public lands, thus habituating wolves to livestock
scavenging and possible predation, and leading to their removal from the wild.
Four out of five packs or
family groups, and numerous individuals have been captured and removed for this
reason, often causing injury and sometimes even death, as in the case of three
pups from the first litter born in the wild. The suit will prompt the agencies
to develop regulations and criteria that require swift removal of carcasses,
thus bringing them into compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
For more information click
here.
TWO
NEW PACKS IN GILA WILDERNESS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service placed two breeding pairs of Mexican gray wolves in temporary mesh pens,
(to accustom them to the area and dampen their urge to flee upon release) in
the Gila Wilderness during the first week of April. The newly designated Luna
Pack chewed out immediately, and self-released to the wild. The male has stayed
near the pen site, and the female has been exploring several miles away. The
other pair, Gapiwi Pack, are still in their pen. All four wolves lived in the
wild before (a precondition to their release into New Mexico). Both females
are pregnant and are due to give birth at this time.
AGGRESSIVE
REMOVAL OF WOLVES FROM WILD
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service on 3-18-02 trapped and removed a male wolf from the former Wildcat Pack
for the fourth and last time, because he had established a territory that only
partly consisted of national forest lands, but also included Bureau of Land
Management public land, state, and private lands that are off-limits to wolves.
The last wolf from the Lupine Pack, also in New Mexico, is being trapped now
because he has repeatedly scavenged on unremoved livestock carcasses, and had
also wandered out of the recovery area. Neither wolf has attacked any cattle.
ALBUQUERQUE
JOURNAL SUPPORTS DIRECT RELEASE OF WOLVES INTO THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
In a editorial on 3-30-02,
the Albuquerque Journal reaffirmed its support for direct releases of wolves
into New Mexico, and for allowing them to wander outside the arbitrary recovery
area boundaries without being recaptured.
They noted: The four-year-old
Mexican gray wolf recovery program has had more than its share of setbacks.
The two lobos caught eating dead cattle in Catron County, and the imminent plan
to trap them is only the most recent one. That these two a male and possibly
pregnant female are the only known lobos in the state is at least a symbolic
blow to the program.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FAILS TO IMPLEMENT SCIENTISTS RECOMMENDATIONS
Last June four eminent carnivore
biologists led by world renowned wolf expert Paul C. Paquet, Ph.D. of the University
of Calgary analyzed the Mexican wolf recovery program and made three urgent
recommendations:
1) Allow for direct release of wolves from the captive population into the Gila
National Forest;
2) End the requirement that wolf packs who establish territories outside the
recovery area be recaptured;
3) Address the problem of cattle carcasses habituating wolves to livestock.
However, the Service has
failed to implement any of these changes, and the wolf population is declining,
primarily due to government removals and illegal killings. There are currently
only 20 known wolves in the wild, although the 1996 environmental impact statement
authorizing the reintroduction program predicted 35 animals at the end of 2001.
CENTER
OFFERS REWARD IN WOLF KILLINGS
The Center for Biological
Diversity is still offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension
and conviction of those responsible for any of the Mexican gray wolf killings.
In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering $10,000 for such
information.
Nine wolves have been shot,
and seven of these cases are still unsolved. Three wolves have been killed by
vehicles in hit and run accidents, and 16 wolves are still missing. Rewards
by the Service, the Center and other non-profit groups led to the conviction
and sentencing of a man who shot one of the wolves in 1998.
For additional information,
see the Centers Mexican
gray wolf page.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO
Please write Interior Secretary
Norton and request an expeditious change in the rules to reflect the scientists
three recommendations; send a copy to your member of Congress and Senator.
Addresses:
Interior Secretary Norton, 1849 C St., Washington D.C. 20240.
House of Representatives, Washington D.C. 20515.
U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 20510
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