Please note that the deadline for comments to the Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction Program has been modified to 31 July 2005. This is to accomodate the final draft of the socioeconomic study section, several new ‘standard operating proceedures’ (SOPs) for wolf managementment, and a one year moratorium on the reintroduction of Mexican wolves. The SOPs and the moratorium were developed during a closed-door meeting arranged by Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) for ranchers and senior members of the USFWS.

These documents contain serious ecological and ethical problems that deserve close attention. The socioeconomic study ignores questions of ethics. The SOPs create new restrictions on where wolves can be re-released after their capture, and gives preference to lethal over non-lethal modes of wolf management. The moratorium delays the introduction of genetic diversity at a critical biological juncture for Mexican wolves. All of this has been ‘approved’ by the overarching Adaptive Management Oversight Committee (AMOC).

More information, can be found at mexicanwolf.fws.gov/, including email and postal addresses for public comments.

cheers, Bill