Supervisors want hearing on mexican wolf reintroduction; concerned U.S. releasing wolves in Mexico

Saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consider the concerns of county residents in the Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction program comment period, the county Board of Supervisors requested a public meeting be held. “The county originally requested a public meeting be held in Cochise County in July 2013 and is dismayed to hear that the only public meeting will be held 300 miles away. It is not practical for people to travel that far for a meeting, especially in light of the fact they may only receive three minutes of time to present their issues,” the letter notes. “A meeting in the county would allow those from much of the area south of I-10 to have the opportunity to provide much needed input.” USFWS was asked to hold the public hearing in the county at least 60 days prior to the close of the comment period to allow adequate time for comments.  The supervisors also requested an extension of the comment period by an additional 120 days past the current Sept. 23 deadline so residents can provide constructive comments. Ever since the USFWS decided to reintroduce the wolf species to parts of Arizona and New Mexico, the supervisors have been at loggerheads with the federal agency. There is much concern over a number of Mexican gray wolves that have been “subversively released” by the USFWS to the Mexican government just 30 miles south of the border with Cochise County. Some wolves could migrate up into the county, putting the stock of ranchers and the pets of residents at risk, making input from county residents and ranchers essential to the process, the letter continues. “These Mexican wolves that come north from Old Mexico gain immediate, endangered species status once they cross into Cochise County,” the letter states. “If the proposed action is implemented, additional wolves are expected to be located in Cochise County. These wolves jeopardize the economic and social stability of the citizens of Cochise County and for this reason, we deserve to be heard and ask questions.”...more