SANTA FE (June 29, 2017) – As part of its 2016 settlement with conservationists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released today the long-overdue draft recovery plan for endangered Mexican gray wolves, or lobos. The final recovery plan is expected to be released in November 2017.
Bryan Bird, Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:
“Politics trumps science in this draft Mexican gray wolf recovery plan. It's a backroom deal with the states that resist wolf recovery and fail to understand the transformational benefits to the entire landscape when Mexican gray wolves thrive.
“Contrary to recommendations from leading wolf biologists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s draft plan restricts the Mexican gray wolves from moving into millions of acres of suitable habitat in northern Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. President Trump’s plans to build an impenetrable border wall with Mexico will only worsen chances for the wolves’ recovery. The lobos would be boxed in, incapable of beating the clock on extinction.
“Future generations should have the chance to hear wolves howl on the landscape. Scientists – not politicians who had undue influence on the recovery plan for Mexican gray wolves – should be making decisions about how best to protect endangered species and their habitat.”
Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 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 defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
