WildEarth Guardians

Thursday, October 6, 2005
The Need to Preserve Aplomado Falcon Safeguards: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal to reintroduce aplomado falcons a

WildEarth Guardians has encouraged FWS to adopt a cautious approach on this reintroduction so that it does not come at the expense of the wild falcon population which exists in southern New Mexico.
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

On February 9, 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule that provides for the reintroduction of up to 150 northern aplomado falcons annually for ten or more years into New Mexico under a non-essential experimental designation. Such a designation would remove nearly all Endangered Species Act protections for both wild falcons which currently exist in New Mexico, as well as reintroduced falcons and their progeny.

While WildEarth Guardians does not oppose reintroduction of falcons, we oppose stripping away their Endangered Species Act protections under a nonessential, experimental designation. We have encouraged FWS for the past three years to adopt a cautious approach on this reintroduction so that it does not come at the expense of the wild falcon population which exists in southern New Mexico. Our message of precaution has been resolutely ignored.

Read the Factsheet (PDF)