MONDAY June 13, 2005 Ranchers, environmentalists differ on wolf reintroduction program

RESERVE, N.M. (AP) - Ranchers and stock industry in this part of the state," wild. environmentalists agree on one thing when she said. "We won't survive if they're al- it comes to Mexican gray wolves: the pro- lowed to continue the status quo." A study by Industrial Economics Inc. gram to reintroduce them is not working. based in Cambridge, Mass., and Berven, A series of public meetings to discuss the Harp & Associates has compiled the num- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is con- wolf reintroduction program starts ber of livestock killings based on govern- sidering biologists' recommendations in a Wednesday in Reserve. Meetings will con- ment sources and ranchers. five-year review of the program, which tinue Thursday in Bayard, Friday in Truth promises to spark a renewed debate on or Consequences and Saturday in Albu- The study shows that anywhere from 37 the future of the endangered wolves. querque. to 245 cattle, sheep, horses and dogs were killed by wolves in New Mexico and Ari- State and federal biologists who worked Mexican gray wolves were pushed to the zona from 1998 to 2004. on the five-year review say the wolves brink of extinction by federal eradication should be free to set up territories outside efforts in the early to mid 1900s. The economic impact ranges from the current boundaries in the Southwest. $38,650 to $206,290, which includes the Environmentalists agree. Captive breeding and the reintroduction market value of the animals and the cost program straddling the New Mexico-Ari- of preparing each claim for compensa- "This program is in deep trouble the way zona border and run by federal, state and tion. it's being run now," said Michael Robinson tribal governments are the cornerstones of the Center for Biological Diversity in of an effort to restore the wolves. But a conservation group that has paid Tucson, Ariz. "We may be looking at the ranchers $33,000 for lost livestock since second extermination of the Mexican gray The Fish and Wildlife Service has not 1998, said all ranchers have to do is send wolf. It's that bad." moved forward on any of the changes in a report prepared by the government, recommended by scientists, but has pro- said Craig Miller of Defenders of Wildlife Changes are needed to increase the wild posed restrictions on wolf releases at the in Tucson, Ariz. wolf population and give the endangered request of ranchers. animals a better shot at survival, environ- Even using the high estimate of losses mentalists say. The proposal says that for one year, no provided by ranchers, wolves killed only captive-bred wolves without experience about a quarter of 1 percent of the 34,800 Ranchers argue the program needs to get in the wild would be let loose and wolves cattle in the area in 2002, the year with tougher on wolves that kill livestock. Be- that had killed livestock would not be the most killings. cause of ranchers' concerns, a one-year moved from one state or Indian reserva- ban on some new wolf releases has been tion to another. The study also tried to measure the wolf proposed. reintroduction program's value. Environmentalists say such restrictions Laura Schneberger, president of the Gila would jeopardize the recovery of the In addition to program jobs and tourism Livestock Growers Association, said the wolves. benefits, the ecological benefits can be program team must do more to control demonstrated by a wolf reintroduction wolves and help ranchers. Ranchers say slowing down releases program in Yellowstone National Park. would give the program time to get a bet- "At stake is the very survival of the live- ter handle on the number of wolves in the Wolves there reduced elk populations that had been overgrazing vegetation along streams and rivers. That change, in turn, benefited beavers, bears, foxes and birds.