Board of Supervisors says no to expanding Mexican wolf territory

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors will take a second shot at Mexican wolves Monday. The board previously opposed the expansion of the endangered wolves' territory into Yavapai County, and now that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a second round of comments, the board is reiterating its stance. "These wolves would pose a serious threat to wildlife, private property and especially the livestock that our ranchers depend on for their livelihood," a draft board letter states. The board prefers to see the state manage the wolves. Monday's meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the county offices at 10 South 6th St. in Cottonwood. Fish and Wildlife reviewed last year's public comments and came up with a revised proposal to help the wolf population recover. Both the old and new proposal envision expanding the wolves' range into more of Arizona and New Mexico, including Yavapai County, The new proposal would also allow the release of certain wolves in this region. And it would expand the cases in which people could kill the wolves...more