KINGMAN - Mexican gray wolves are a highly controversial species of predators that are the subject of much discussion and litigation over just how many of these alpha predators should be on the landscape in Arizona.
At a recent Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting in Flagstaff, Mohave County Supervisor Gary Watson and I attended the meeting specifically to hear a presentation by Jim DeVos, who is a special assistant to the director. DeVos gave an update on the department's status as it pertained to the introduction of wolves in Arizona.
...Game and Fish is not opposed to the reintroduction of the wolves. It's is the number of wolves proposed for the Arizona landscape that is the subject of the many lawsuits that have been filed.
DeVos made it clear that the agency is actively working to assess and help in the reintroduction effort, but at the same time he cautioned commissioners that if too many of the wolves are in the state, and without state management jurisdiction, Arizona's other wildlife species could be in danger.
Elk are the preferred food of wolves, but they are adept at killing deer and they also have been known to take cattle and sheep, which is a concern of the Arizona livestock industry.
And despite the testimony of some of the wolf advocates, there have been documented cases of threats by wolves to humans.
...Game and Fish suggests that wolf numbers could increase to as many as 300 or so without damaging Arizona's other wildlife populations.
DeVos also said that the department is not recommending the expansion of the wolf recovery area to include other areas on Arizona where wolves do not currently live.
DeVos noted that the department is actively working with officials in Mexico, where the wolves were native, to increase the numbers of animals there, which would help in the recovery effort.
...Watson presented the commission with a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors in opposition to expanding the wolf recovery area to include Mohave County.
I read a statement from the Mohave Sportsman Club, which believes that Game and Fish should determine how many wolves should be in Arizona.
The department also should establish the wolf recovery area boundaries, while considering all of Arizona's wildlife.
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