Human killing of endangered Mexican wolves addressed in revised federal plan
Adrian HeddenMexican gray wolves were long feared as a danger to livestock in southern New Mexico, even as their populations dwindled and the animal neared extinction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported 14 illegally killed wolves in 2020, with six dying in vehicle collisions. The rest were likely shot by people.
About 74 percent of documented Mexican wolf deaths between 1998 and 2020 were blamed on human causes, records show, 119 of 216 deaths.
Those deaths were the focus of federal efforts to restore the wolf to its historic range and population, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday it was revising its Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan first developed in 2017, to increase efforts to mitigate killings by people.
A draft of the altered plan was released Thursday, initiating a 30-day public comment period where landowners and other stakeholders can submit feedback to the agency.
Brady McGee, Mexican wolf recovery coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the plan was intend address human threats to the animal.
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“Mexican wolves continue to make progress toward their recovery goals here in the U.S., but human-caused mortality continues to be a concern as it could hinder future population growth,” he said.
“Addressing this threat will require the support of our partners, law enforcement and members of the public.”
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The draft included actions to address human wolf killing, including illegal killings, and maintain previous recovery criteria.
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It proposed public outreach in wolf-occupied areas, seeking to improve awareness of wolf recovery efforts among ranchers, hunters and other land users and owners.
The plan could also increase law enforcement in areas known for high mortality rates, strengthening investigations into unlawful deaths.
And it would entail adding road enhancements to increase the wolf’s ability to cross roadways without being hit by cars.
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“It is our intention that the actions we have added to the draft revised recovery plan will help alleviate the threat of excessive human-caused mortality, including illegal killing,” read the proposal.
“We will adapt our implementation of recovery actions over time to address sources of human-caused mortality, as we assess population performance, the contribution of specific sources to overall mortality levels, the availability of resources needed for implementation of specific actions, and other considerations.”
Feds seek input on wolf plan revisions
After the revised plan was published on April 14, comments will be accepted for 30 days until May 14, and a final plan will be published six months later Oct. 14, per the court order.
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Those who wished to participate in the process were able to submit comments online at regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2022-0018.
“We encourage the public, federal and state agencies, tribes, and other stakeholders to review the proposal and provide comments,” read a news release from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Wolf recovery draw criticism from environmentalists
Recent data from the agency showed 196 wolves living in New Mexico and Arizona, and 35 surviving in Mexico of the species that once numbered in the thousands across the American West.
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It was listed as endangered in 1976, beginning decades of controversy as human killings continued and conservations sought increased protections.
The Center for Biological Diversity estimated 119 wolves were killed illegally since 1998, including 25 dead last year.
Michael Robinson, conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity based in Silver City said the federal government must take action through the revised plan.
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“This plan has to recognize that each wolf-killing is a tragedy for the victim, pack members, and the endangered Mexican gray wolf subspecies that so many people have dedicated themselves to saving from extinction,” he said. “I hope the government will finally take resolute action.”
Robinson said the Fish and Wildlife Service must work to increase “tolerance” of wolves among local landowners and communities to fully protect them from extinction.
“The recovery plan revision process must logically connect federal actions to the broader goal of saving these endangered animals,” he said.
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The proposed revisions were the result of a 2018 lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and an October 2021 court ruling calling on the agency to adjust its plans to account for human killings.
Robinson said the practice of using radio receivers by landowners to locate wolves based on their tags should be banned, pointing to “at least” two people using such devices before pleading guilty to illegal kills.
“Urging tolerance for wolves while giving wolf-killers the tools to locate them doesn’t sound cutting edge and innovative anymore,” he said.
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In March, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, noted in the plan as a partnering agency with the Fish and Wildlife Service, reported the wolf’s population grew by 5 percent in 2021, credited to federal and state recovery efforts.
That agency reported the numbers grew by 14 percent the year before, and drew criticism from conservationists for the slower growth rate.
Patricia Estrella, New Mexico representative with Defenders of the Wildlife said more actions should be taken to curb illegal deaths, expand wolf habitat and improve breeding programs.
“The increase in the number of Mexican gray wolves is encouraging, but there is still significant work to be done to save this critically endangered subspecies,” she said.
“Continuing to improve conservation efforts to reduce illegal mortalities, expand areas where the wolves are allowed to roam and address the genetic problems this species faces will help the population continue to rebound.”
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.