| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: WoT |
| Feds to go after Mexican killer |
| 2006-11-22 |
| The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to remove from the wild an endangered Mexican gray wolf that has killed livestock in southwestern New Mexico. The agency announced Tuesday that it has issued a permanent removal order for the male wolf – identified as M859 lovely name – because it has been involved in three confirmed livestock depredations since June. The order means that wildlife managers will try to either capture the animal or kill it. If the wolf is taken alive, it will be The Fish and Wildlife Service began releasing wolves on the Arizona-New Mexico border in 1998 to re-establish the species in part of its historic range. Many ranchers have been vocal opponents of the effort because of livestock depredation. "While permanent removal orders may be perceived as a step back in reintroduction efforts, removing problem wolves is an integral part of wolf management and actually helps create an environment supporting future wolf releases," Benjamin Tuggle, director of the agency's southwestern region, said in a statement. The agency has designated the wolves as a "nonessential, experimental population," allowing more flexibility in managing them – including removal by capture or killing if an animal has been involved in at least three livestock deaths in a year. Bummer of an assignment. "Hey, darling, I've been designated as "nonessential" by the government." That won't work as a pick-up line. |
| Posted by:Jackal |