WildEarth Guardians

Friday, January 9, 2009
Government Has Suspect in August 2008 Mexican Wolf Killing

More must be done to protect lobos
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

SANTE FE, N.M. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded an investigation into the illegal killing of an endangered Mexican gray wolf and presented the results to the U.S. Attorney's office. Law enforcement officials report that the suspect in the killing is a ranch caretaker in southern New Mexico.

More than 30 Mexican wolves have been illegally killed since reintroduction began in 1998. The wolf killed on August 6th was the alpha male of the Laredo Pack, and one of seven Mexican wolves killed under suspicious circumstances last year. The following is a chronology of his life:

Spring 2005: born to the Saddle Pack in the Gila National Forest;

January 18, 2006: Trapped, outfitted with a radio telemetry collar, and released;

March 26, 2006: Trapped accidentally by a private coyote trapper, and handed over to authorities;

June 17, 2008: Released in Gila Wilderness with a mate who had also been captured from the wild;

August 6, 2008: Found dead.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the illegal killing of Mexican gray wolves, in addition to $40,000 already pledged by wildlife conservation groups and $1,000 apiece from the Arizona Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department - for a total award of $52,000. The arrest and conviction of an Arizona wolf poacher in 2000 was aided by a reward offered at that time.

Mexican gray wolves are an essential part of the balance of Nature, but only about 50 survive in the wild. Poaching, as well as shooting and trapping by the government on behalf of the livestock industry, all disrupt pack social structures and can diminish the chance of survival of remaining wolves.

In order to prevent Mexican wolves from going extinct in the wild again, dramatic changes in Mexican wolf management must be a top priority of the Obama administration. In addition to vigorous prosecution of poachers, the government should stop trapping and shooting Mexican wolves and should facilitate voluntary, reimbursed retirement of grazing permits on public lands to help eliminate conflicts with livestock.