Thursday, August 18, 2016

Arizona lawmakers want control of endangered Mexican gray wolves

Some Republican lawmakers say Arizona would do better by the wolves than a federally run program, which has spent more than $25 million since the late 1990s. They are pushing legislation that would effectively remove federal Endangered Species Act protections and entrust the wolves to Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. The move comes in a year when the slowly rebounding population took a dive, when wolf supporters say they need more protections from poachers and other threats, not less. The lawmakers seeking change complain about the burden wolves place on rural ranchers, but they also insist the wolf would be better off without the federal bureaucracy. "The Mexican gray wolf is no better off today than it was 20 years ago," said Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz, who sponsored a budget amendment to defund the federal wolf program. Another effort, a Senate bill that Arizona's two Republican senators are backing, would force greater state and ranch-industry influence on a new recovery plan and cap the number of wolves allowed. Proponents say the wolves — 97 at last count — kill livestock in the two states and that government compensation is spotty and inadequate...more

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

For example, I suggest you read a draft of such legislation at:http://www.cnicholslaw.com/federal-wolf-liability-act