ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Aug. 24, 2017) – During its meeting today, the New Mexico State Game Commission voted to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s most recent draft Mexican gray wolf recovery plan.
Bryan Bird, Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:
“The current draft Mexican gray wolf recovery plan will not sufficiently improve lobo numbers nor increase their genetic diversity in the wild, two major factors that will help recover this species. It also constrains wolves to an arbitrary boundary, restricting them from roaming safely into suitable, unoccupied habitat. So, we hope that the New Mexico State Game Commission’s vote today is a sign that they are willing to participate in the process to strengthen the plan for the benefit of local communities, landscapes and wildlife.
“No matter what, Defenders of Wildlife remains committed to lobo recovery in the Southwest, and we will continue to innovate proactive coexistence strategies and tools on the ground for local communities to share the landscape peacefully with wolves. Lobo recovery could transform our landscapes just like wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone brought landscapes and rivers back to life.”
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.
