NM Wolf allies howl in protest

Several dozen protesters made their voices heard on the issue of wolf reintroduction during a demonstration Friday afternoon outside WNMU's Global Resource Center Auditorium. The protest was scheduled to coincide with the speaking engagement of Benjamin Tuggle, regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's Southwest Region, who was invited to speak on the issue of climate change at the Third Annual Gila Symposium being held this week at the university. Protesters marched peacefully up and down the sidewalk outside the Global Resource Center, holding signs that said, "We want wolves in the Gila N F" and "Donde Estan Los Lobos" and "USFWS Free our Wolves." The mostly quiet demonstration was marked by the occasional wolf howl. "People are here because they want to speak to Dr. Tuggle to say 'We want wolves in the Gila,'" said Rinda Metz, who organized the demonstration. "They hear a lot from the other side." Metz said ranchers and others who don't support wolf reintroduction are vocal in their opposition, and the demonstration was an opportunity for those who support wolves being reintroduced into the Gila to let their voices be heard by the head of the Wildlife Services Southwest Region...more