Monday, June 25, 2018

Advocates go after rancher’s forest permit after wolf’s death

A Mexican gray wolf identified as mp1385 had a lot working against him. As a threatened species, the nearly year-old male pup faced the same issues that have long challenged Mexican gray wolves in a decades-old reintroduction program in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona: an uncertainty over food, problems associated with inbreeding, the occasional car accident, poaching. But it was a simple farm implement that ended the life of mp1385 — and perhaps gave rise to new tensions in the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, which began in 1982 after the subspecies was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. A Catron County man who admitted to intentionally trapping the wolf pup on his Gila National Forest grazing allotment killed the animal in February 2015 with a shovel, according to court records. Thirty-three organizations and 20 individuals requested “the immediate cancellation” of Thiessen’s permit in a June 8 letter to Gila National Forest Supervisor Adam Mendonca and U.S. Forest Service interim Chief Vicki Christiansen. “The public should not subsidize Mr. Thiessen’s private business after his brutal, violent and unconscionable crime,” the letter states. Thiessen said he had not heard of the letter seeking his permit revocation. The Forest Service is reviewing the case to make a determination, and Thiessen has the right to appeal, Mendonca said in a phone interview Friday. Thiessen has had a grazing permit in the Quemado Ranger District “for a number of years,” and the standard permit length is 10 years, Mendonca said. The agency has received over 200 calls and about 1,000 emails calling for Thiessen’s permit to be revoked, Mendonca said, adding he “appreciated that folks reached out and let us know how they think.” There is no time frame on when a decision will be made, he said...MORE

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The 10 year limit on grazing permits gives the current permit holder the first right of refusal or the right to apply for another 10 years. He has already paid a fine for supposedly killing the wolf, although there is only circumstantial evidence that the permit holder did kill it. The all inclusive clause in the permit of following all federal laws, etc, is just lawyer whitewash and CYA for FS administrators. How many times has this clause been used to remind a grazing permit? Does the clause protect the rancher from indiscriminate action by federal agencies such as placing dangerous, cattle killing wolves in the area where his cattle are allowed to graze? Isn't there a clause in the bill of rights which protects the rancher from unlawful seizure of his property, ie by drooling tree huggers?
The drooling tree huggers are making their usual outcry over supposed infringement of their "right" to enjoy the wilderness without stepping in cow pies. If a wolf ate one of their dogs you can bet their outrage would include the wolves and those who planted them in the forest.
Stop funding the placement of wolves in the public domain!! WAKE UP AMERICA!