FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 18, 2016

Contact: Catalina Tresky; ctresky@defenders.org, (202) 772-0253

 

2015 numbers on Mexican gray wolf down

 

TUSCON - Today, the Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) released the official annual count of endangered Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The numbers this year are down, from 110 wolves at the end of 2014 to 97 wolves at the end of 2015.

Eva Sargent, Defenders of Wildlife’s senior Southwest representative, issued the following statement:

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs to do more – and do it fast – to save the lobo from extinction. In order for Mexican gray wolves to recover fully, they need more wolf releases, a science-based recovery plan and more wolf populations in suitable habitats.

“Arizona and New Mexico state game and fish commissions have strategically worked to stall this recovery effort by blocking releases, dismissing the best available science, insisting that more studies are needed before a recovery plan is finalized and pressuring the Service to keep the population small and out of the best habitats needed for recovery.

“Enough is enough. The Service needs to assert its authority and recover the Mexican gray wolf.”

 

###

Get the latest Defenders news on Twitter @defendersnews.

Past press statements are available in our newsroom and be sure to visit our multimedia library and reporter resources pages for more info, including free-use photos.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

News

Image
Mojave Desert Tortoise
Washington, D.C.

Trump Administration Guts Public Comments for Federal Projects

The Trump administration has gutted the National Environmental Policy Act by restricting the public’s ability to participate in government decision-making and understand how our tax dollars are being spent.
Image
US Capitol Building Washington DC
Washington, D.C.

Senate Budget Reconciliation Strikes Heart of American Wildlife, Wild Places

Defenders of Wildlife hammered the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill for striking at the heart of America’s wildlife and wild places.