Catron County, home to the Gila Wilderness, includes a large part of the Mexican gray wolf recovery area in New Mexico. But some ranching interests in the County have not been friendly to the wolves. Just in the last few months, the Catron County Commission passed a disaster declaration based on exaggerated claims of the dangers wolves pose to farmed animals and humans, asked that the Governor declare a statewide emergency, and even requested that the federal government send in the National Guard.
On August 15, Wildlife Program Director Nina Eydelman traveled to Reserve, NM in Catron County and joined local residents and advocates from across the state to speak in support of Mexican wolves at a state Game Commission meeting. We praised the recent release of wolf Asha with her mate and pups, requested more releases of bonded wolf pairs to help address genetic diversity concerns in the wild wolf population, urged the use of non-lethal strategies to resolve conflicts with ranchers, and supported the expansion of the wolf recovery area to suitable habitats north of I-40. In alignment with what we know is a vast majority of public support for wolf recovery and sound public policy to ensure its success, public testimony in favor of wolves outnumbered the opposition 35 to 27.
While no decisions were made about wolves at this time, it was an important listening session for the Game Commissioners, County Commissioners, United States Fish & Wildlife Service representatives, legislators, and other policymakers in attendance. It was also an impactful demonstration of how the caring majority of New Mexicans believe that wolves are valuable both as a species and as individuals, essential to our ecosystems, and must be protected.
