CATRON COUNTY SUED BY ENVIRO GROUPS
Forest Guardians claim injury due to County’s Ordinance


CATRON COUNTY COMMISSION
PO BOX 507
RESERVE NM 87830
Ed Wehrheim, Chairman

Contact: Ron Shortes, Catron County Attorney
Phone 505.533.6265
Email: shortes2@gilanet.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RESERVE, N.M. On July 25, 2007, a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief was filed against Catron County in federal district court by the environmental groups Forest Guardians and Sinapu, who are claiming injury to themselves for violation of the Endangered Species Act by the County, and for the Countys enactment of a Mexican wolf related Ordinance.

This suit is a gross misrepresentation made in bad faith which distorts the facts and law, Ron Shortes, Catron County Attorney said. It is a cheap theatrical trick used to lie to the public about what is actually going on in Catron County, about the failure of the wolf program and the great danger it poses to human beings.

Catron County, as of the opening of business offices on Friday morning, July 27, had not yet been served with the lawsuit.

When Catron County is properly served with the suit, which Forest Guardians has not bothered to do - another indication of bad faith - we will have the chance to address the issues, Shortes said. When we answer this within the time required by law, we will tell the judge and the public the truth about the facts and the law.

We are the county where they’ve released most of the wolves, so we’re the ones whose children are endangered the most, Shortes said. The Forest Guardians and Sinapu are composed of people who don’t even live here - Sinapu is a carnivore protection group focused on the Southern Rocky Mountains. These organizations aren’t suffering from the problems with the wolf program - we here in Catron County are. Even the wolves here are suffering more from this poorly managed program than the Forest Guardians and Sinapu are.

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hat tip to wolfcrossing