Liberty Belle
Well-known member
Pearce not happy with wolf program
Representative says wolf reintroduction is 'ineffective'
Alamogordo Daily News
By Karl Anderson, Staff Writer
12/20/2007
Rep. Stevan Pearce is expressing his discontent with regards to the direction the Mexican gray wolf recovery program is heading in New Mexico.
"I am disappointed more of my colleagues could not see the wisdom in eliminating an unsuccessful, ineffective program that has not only failed to produce results, but also threatens the lives and livelihoods of New Mexicans," he said. "We have tried the reintroduction program for 10 years and have seen only growing problems and more wolf-human interactions."
Pearce said he believes the time has come to concede that wolves cannot successfully be reintroduced into New Mexico, and is disappointed Congress has not yet reached that view.
"I will continue working to ensure that we are protected from these captive-bred habituated wolves," he said. "The Fish and Wildlife Service must take active steps to better manage problem wolves and guarantee that farmers, ranchers, their families, and their livestock are not repeatedly stalked and attacked.
"I will furthermore continue working to educate my colleagues with regards to the problems associated with this program."
Pearce said the vote by Congress this past June to continue the recovery program was a setback. The congressman said he intends to put more pressure on those who he believes have only wasted tax dollars and created what he termed "a menace within our communities."
"We have people in the Second District that can't check their mail without taking a pistol to the mailbox for fear of being attacked," Pearce said. "Without a federal compensation program for our ranchers, they are forced to bear the cost of lost livestock. They depend on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the wolves off their livestock and property. "Unfortunately, the Service has proven that they are incapable or protecting the ranchers of the Second District from the growing number of captive-bred, habituated, problem wolves in the recovery program."
But according to Eva Sargent, Southwest director for Defenders of Wildlife, the non-profit agency has and continues to reimburse ranchers for losses suffered by wolves.
"We have paid out nearly $100,000 since 1998," she said in a recent interview. "That amount represents what we paid out collectively between 25 and 30 ranches, all of which were in New Mexico, Arizona or on the White Mountain Apache Reservation."
Sargent said the program replaces specific animals.
"We pay fair market value," she said. "If someone loses a heifer, for example, it replaces that heifer. So it replaces an animal that could have produced young with another that can produce young."
"The congressman is familiar with that program," said Brian Phillips, press secretary for Pearce. "The congressman has received feedback that tells us ranchers are not very happy with that program."
Pearce said since its inception, the Mexican gray wolf reentry program has spent more than $14 million and released just 59 wolves at a cost of over $237,000 per wolf.
"This year, one out of every five of those wolves will be deemed 'problem wolves' and require that the (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) hunt them down and removed them from the wild. The USFWS also spent additional resources on educating residents on how to protect themselves if they encounter wolves on their property."
Pearce cited several reports he received from constituents who have witnessed numerous attacks by wolves.
"I have pictures of wolf tracks leading up to a corral right by someone's house," he said. "I have seen the bloody carcasses of livestock that have been attacked and eaten.
"We need to approach the problem with a little common sense.
"In the meantime, we shouldn't be wasting more and more resources on a failed program that puts people's lives and livelihoods in danger."
http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_7765111
Representative says wolf reintroduction is 'ineffective'
Alamogordo Daily News
By Karl Anderson, Staff Writer
12/20/2007
Rep. Stevan Pearce is expressing his discontent with regards to the direction the Mexican gray wolf recovery program is heading in New Mexico.
"I am disappointed more of my colleagues could not see the wisdom in eliminating an unsuccessful, ineffective program that has not only failed to produce results, but also threatens the lives and livelihoods of New Mexicans," he said. "We have tried the reintroduction program for 10 years and have seen only growing problems and more wolf-human interactions."
Pearce said he believes the time has come to concede that wolves cannot successfully be reintroduced into New Mexico, and is disappointed Congress has not yet reached that view.
"I will continue working to ensure that we are protected from these captive-bred habituated wolves," he said. "The Fish and Wildlife Service must take active steps to better manage problem wolves and guarantee that farmers, ranchers, their families, and their livestock are not repeatedly stalked and attacked.
"I will furthermore continue working to educate my colleagues with regards to the problems associated with this program."
Pearce said the vote by Congress this past June to continue the recovery program was a setback. The congressman said he intends to put more pressure on those who he believes have only wasted tax dollars and created what he termed "a menace within our communities."
"We have people in the Second District that can't check their mail without taking a pistol to the mailbox for fear of being attacked," Pearce said. "Without a federal compensation program for our ranchers, they are forced to bear the cost of lost livestock. They depend on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the wolves off their livestock and property. "Unfortunately, the Service has proven that they are incapable or protecting the ranchers of the Second District from the growing number of captive-bred, habituated, problem wolves in the recovery program."
But according to Eva Sargent, Southwest director for Defenders of Wildlife, the non-profit agency has and continues to reimburse ranchers for losses suffered by wolves.
"We have paid out nearly $100,000 since 1998," she said in a recent interview. "That amount represents what we paid out collectively between 25 and 30 ranches, all of which were in New Mexico, Arizona or on the White Mountain Apache Reservation."
Sargent said the program replaces specific animals.
"We pay fair market value," she said. "If someone loses a heifer, for example, it replaces that heifer. So it replaces an animal that could have produced young with another that can produce young."
"The congressman is familiar with that program," said Brian Phillips, press secretary for Pearce. "The congressman has received feedback that tells us ranchers are not very happy with that program."
Pearce said since its inception, the Mexican gray wolf reentry program has spent more than $14 million and released just 59 wolves at a cost of over $237,000 per wolf.
"This year, one out of every five of those wolves will be deemed 'problem wolves' and require that the (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) hunt them down and removed them from the wild. The USFWS also spent additional resources on educating residents on how to protect themselves if they encounter wolves on their property."
Pearce cited several reports he received from constituents who have witnessed numerous attacks by wolves.
"I have pictures of wolf tracks leading up to a corral right by someone's house," he said. "I have seen the bloody carcasses of livestock that have been attacked and eaten.
"We need to approach the problem with a little common sense.
"In the meantime, we shouldn't be wasting more and more resources on a failed program that puts people's lives and livelihoods in danger."
http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_7765111
