Tucson, Ariz.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department removed four Mexican grey wolves from a ranch in Cochise County on Tuesday.
Jim de Vos, the Mexican wolf coordinator for the department, stated, “We believe effective management, at times involving elimination, of wolves is a step towards social tolerance or at least social acceptance.”
A male, a female, and her pups found in a burrow were eventually relocated to a facility in New Mexico.
Previous coverage
- Rancher demands relief from Mexican wolves in Cochise County
- Protecting Mexican grey wolves under scrutiny by Cochise County leaders
De Vos remarked, “The livestock industry definitely has a vested interest in the effect Mexican wolves have on their livestock, while advocacy groups focus on their recovery, so it’s a balancing act for the department.”
Since the reintroduction program began in the late 1990s, the wolf population has grown to 286.
A rancher in Cochise County expressed concerns about the lack of assessments on prey availability, mentioning the need for animals like elk to support the wolf population naturally.
Three ranchers in the area claimed to have lost as many as 25 cows to wolves. The official count since February stands at six, complicating ranchers’ efforts to demonstrate the extent of their losses. Environmentalists have contested these claims and criticized the removal of the wolves.
De Vos acknowledged, “Some argue that we’re seeing success from our perspective, but others believe we could achieve even more. It’s a complicated and controversial scenario.” He added that Arizona and New Mexico might initiate focus groups this summer to examine threats to wolves and report findings to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
