Federal Wolf Recovery Effort To Continue Despite Roadblocks In New Mexico

By Mónica Ortiz Uribe
October 15, 2015
U.S.
Mónica Ortiz Uribe
U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff check the vital signs of a captive wolf at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will move forward with its efforts to recover the Mexican grey wolf despite opposition from the state of New Mexico.

New Mexico's Department of Game and Fish has refused to issue permits allowing the federal agency to release captive wolves into the wild.

On Wednesday, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) notified state officials it must ignore the permit denials in order to meet its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. A spokesman for FWS said releasing captive wolves into the wild is critical to the survival of the species because it strengthens genetic diversity. The recovery effort started off with seven wolves in 1998. Today the wild population has reached 110 wolves.

New Mexico's Department of Game and Fish released a statement saying the federal recovery plan is outdated and it wants to see a revised version before approving more wolf releases. Wildlife advocates have also asked for an updated plan.

A team of conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year accusing the agency of failing in its recovery effort.