™ Volume 71, No. 5
® May 2014
Recent Developments Regarding the Endangered Species Act and How They are Affecting New Mexico’s Farmers and Ranchers by Dalene Hodnett, Director of Communications and Media Relations
Ask any New Mexico rancher does not make up for the unconin or near the Blue Range Wolf firmed depredations or the injuRecovery Area and they’ll tell ries and stress to the herd. The you wolves are slowly putting bottom line is that I would prefer them out of business. Ask the to have the right to protect my United States Fish and Wildlife property from the wolves rather Service about wolves anywhere than deal with the potential red outside of New Mexico and tape of receiving compensation.” they’ll tell you about a wolf “We haven’t signed onto anyrecovery success story. thing yet,” says John Richardson, So successful in fact the NMF&LB member and owner USFWS has proposed delisting of a ranch near Monticello. “We wolves in Michigan and other firmly believe the wolf reintroparts of the nation. However, duction program is a failure and closer to home, the Mexican that’s why the USFWS is trying Grey Wolf is still considered an alternative plan.” endangered and still wreaking Another area of concern on the The Lesser Prairie Chicken’s habitat covers the states havoc on area ranches. other side of the state is the Lessof Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and OklahoIn order to lessen the negative ma. Photo by Andrew Lawrence, NMSU grad student. er Prairie Chicken which was effects of the wolf reintroducrecently declared “threatened” by generations, long before the reintrotion, the Mexican Wolf/ Livestock the USFWS. Threatened is one duction of the Mexican Grey Wolf. Coexistence Council (Coexistence step from endangered and the desigAs a mother of two young daughters, Council), an 11 person panel created nation will impact 40 million square discussing compensation for losses is by the USFWS, recently released a acres over five states. Jim Lane, previsimply offensive. This offer addresses plan that purports to pay ranchers for ous Director of New Mexico Game livestock loss due to wolf depredation. the threat these killers pose to cattle, and Fish and now an ESA consultant, but who’s addressing the threat they The plan is not popular with local was disappointed in the decision statpose to humans?” ranchers. “This particular proposal is ing that, “The science does not support The goals of the Coexistence Plan a weak attempt in addressing finanthe listing. This bird has been declared are to reduce wolf/livestock conflicts cial concerns of livestock growers,” extinct twice in the last hundred years, and the need for management removsays Crystal Diamond, a rancher and but always manages to come back als of depredating or nuisance wolves board member for the Sierra County when drought recedes.” Lane supports while sustaining viable ranching, Farm & Livestock Bureau. “Wolves state control of the LPC habitat noting impact far more than cattle operations. protecting healthy western landscapes, that, “States are in a better position to and advancing a wild, self-sustaining These protected predators pose a work with landowners to manage the Mexican Grey Wolf population. great threat to New Mexico’s hunting land and keep the bird in state control Loretta Rabenau, a rancher in the industry. Sportsmen will lose hunting with an ultimate goal of complete opportunities and the outfitter & guide Gila Mountains and a member of recovery.” One option available to NMF&LB, is skeptical of the plan’s community stand to lose their entire local farmers and ranchers is enrollintentions to reimburse ranchers for livelihoods. Furthermore, ranchers in ment in the Range-Wide Conservation livestock that has been killed by wolf country aren’t just raising cattle, Plan through the Western Association wolves. “We have received compenthey’re raising families on ranch of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Enrollsation for some losses in the past. It lands that have been handed down for continued on page 3 May 2014
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