Court lifts injunction blocking Mexican gray wolf releases

DENVER (April 25, 2017) – The 10^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today to lift a preliminary injunction blocking further releases of highly endangered Mexican gray wolves into the wild within New Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) can now resume wolf releases within the state.

Bryan Bird, Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:

“Today’s ruling is a victory for the Endangered Species Act, the Mexican gray wolf and everyone who cares about endangered species recovery. Now that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can again release Mexican gray wolves into the wild in New Mexico, we hope that their numbers will continue to climb and that their genetic diversity in the wild will improve. Defenders will continue to work with local communities by providing them proactive strategies and tools to peacefully share the landscape with Mexican gray wolves. We can coexist with these icons of the Southwest.”

Judy Calman, staff attorney for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, said:

"Direct releases of wolves into the wild is one of the most critical tools available to the Fish and Wildlife Service to facilitate species recovery. With this ability restored, the Court has increased the chances that the wolf will once again be able to fill its keystone role in the Gila ecosystem."