U.S. Agency: Wolf Stays in Catron

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has refused Catron County's demand to remove a recently released endangered Mexican gray wolf. Catron County commissioners in February adopted an ordinance that challenges federal authority over management of the endangered wolf recovery program. The ordinance asserts the county's right to trap and remove wolves deemed accustomed to humans or which "have a high probability of causing physical and/or psychological damage to children or other defenseless persons." That removal standard is lower than one applied by federal officials. Commissioners in an emergency meeting April 26 passed a resolution demanding that Fish and Wildlife remove a pregnant female wolf they said is accustomed to humans and is a threat. The Fish and Wildlife Service does not plan to remove the wolf. It responded to the county's demand letter with a warning on May 3, spokeswoman Victoria Fox said Monday. "We've emphasized that any action taken that would affect the Mexican wolf population that isn't authorized under federal law will constitute a violation that will subject the entity or individual to the full prosecutorial power of the U.S. government," Fox said....