Proposed rule changes could hamper efforts of groups working on mexican wolf recovery

The New Mexico State Game Commission could give itself the power to prevent private property owners from keeping captive Mexican gray wolves for recovery and reintroduction of the endangered species. The Game Commission on Thursday is scheduled to consider a change to the state’s captive wildlife rule. The change proposed by staff would require the commission to review permit applications “for the possession or use of any carnivore that is held, possessed or released on private property for the purpose of recovery, reintroduction, conditioning, establishment or reestablishment in New Mexico.” Currently, the State Game and Fish Department director can approve permits for wildlife on private land without the commission’s approval. While the rule change doesn’t specifically mention the Mexican gray wolf, Mary Katherine Ray of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter said it appears aimed at the species, since wolves are carnivores and only an endangered species would need to be recovered and reintroduced. She said she’s called the department asking for clarification on the rule change. “They haven’t given any reason for it,” she said. “We might be wrong in our supposition this is about wolves. But right now, this rule change is fraught with the potential for abuse.”...more