State says it will sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife over wolf release plan

New Mexico state officials notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today they are prepared to sue to block the release of more Mexican wolves. Lawyers for the state Department of Game and Fish filed a “Notice of Intent to Sue” with the federal agency, calling its plan to release more wolves “unpermitted and illegal.” In a plan described as “aggressive” and posted Monday to its website, the Fish and Wildlife Service said it intends to release a pack of wolves in New Mexico, and could “cross-foster” into wild packs some pups born in captivity. But state officials who denied the federal government permission last year to release wolves into the wild said the planned releases would violate federal law. They say under the law, the federal agency is required to cooperate to the maximum extent practicable with the state. They said they will go to court to try to block the releases unless the Fish and Wildlife Service backs off and agrees to take part in a dispute resolution process...more