New Mexico lobos win!
The New Mexico Game Commission voted Sept. 29 to deny the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a permit to release more wolves into the Gila, despite overwhelming public opposition and science indicating that the wild wolf population is in dire need of the genetic diversity that more wolf releases would provide.
But on October 13, the Interior Department exempted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from New Mexico Game and Fish’s permitting process to allow it to comply with the Endangered Species Act!
This means U.S. Fish and Wildlife will release more Mexican wolves onto federal land as it deems necessary, because the Game Commission’s and New Mexico Game and Fish’s irresponsible decisions would force the agency to flout a federal law.
Your activism supported this decision. Fish and Wildlife was at the last two Game Commission meetings, both packed with wildlife supporters. The agency knew the public would support it if it did the right thing for Mexican wolves, and it did.
Want to thank them? You can send a note of support or thanks to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe at
dan_ashe@fws.gov and to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell at Secretary_jewell@ios.doi.gov.
Thank you for your messages to decision-makers, your donations, your activism — they do make a difference!
Mary Katherine Ray, Wildlife Chair, Rio Grande Chapter Sierra Club
Photo by Ute Chiren