Saturday, September 22, 2007

Agency might amend wolf recovery program

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has announced that it will begin a scoping process to gather input on possible changes to its rule that established a recovery and reintroduction program for the Mexican gray wolf.

The federal register notice showing the proposed changes can be found on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/MW_NEPA_Scoping_Notice.20070807.pdf.

The rather lengthy document brings up several issues related to the scope of the National Environmental Policy rules.

"The issues are subjects for discussion. They are issues that have been suggested by scientists or other interested parties," said Elizabeth Slown, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

First, should wolves that roam outside the boundaries of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area be allowed to establish territories outside those boundaries? Currently, wolves found outside the boundaries are removed and re-release inside the recovery area.

Second, should captive-bred wolves be released only within the recovery area or should the service be allowed to release them anywhere in New Mexico where a suitable, remote location conforming to wolf relocation requirements could be found? Currently wolves may only be introduced into suitable areas with the boundaries of the recover area.

A third issue raised by the document suggests the White Sands Wolf Recovery Area is not of sufficient size and does not have the prey density to function as an independent recovery.

Fourth, should the limited provisions for private individuals to harass wolves engaged in nuisance behavior or depredation be expanded to allow other forms of harassment? Currently individuals are not allowed to harass wolves in such a manner as to even potentially result in bodily injury or death to the wolf.

Fifth, should injuries to or killing of domestic dogs be added to the list of depredation incidents allowing the removal or "take" of the wolf? Currently, this lack of authority is reported to have resulted in substantial negative impacts on some local resident and visitors.

Sixth, should livestock operators on public lands be required to take some responsibility for carcass management and disposal to reduce the likelihood that wolves become habituated to feed on livestock? Also, should wolves that feed on non-wolf killed carcasses and later kill livestock be excluded from being charged with depredation incidents?

Currently wolves that feed opportunistically on carcasses may be developing or habituating a preference for beef over elk. A wolf habitually feeding on carcasses that later goes after livestock is charged with a depredation incident and may be lethally removed for its action.

Finally, are there other environmental issues affected by the wolf project? Some listed topics are impacts on floodplains or wetland areas, impacts on parklands or historical areas, impacts on human health and safety, impacts on air, soil or water or impacts on other species of wildlife including other endangered or threatened species.

The scoping process will include both a series of public meetings as well as an opportunity to provide written public comments or suggestions.

Written comments should be sent to the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office on or before Dec. 31. Send comments to Brian Millsap, State Administrator, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. Written comments may also be faxed to 505-346-2542 or by e-mail to R2FWE_AL@fws.gov.

All comments, including names and addresses, will become part of the supporting record and will be made public.

Public meetings will be held in November and December throughout Arizona and New Mexico.

The public meeting in Socorro is scheduled for Dec. 1. The Socorro meeting and other weekend meetings are scheduled to have a public information session from 11 a.m. to noon, a presentation of known issues from noon to 12:30 p.m., and the actual scoping meeting from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For weekday meetings the public information session is currently scheduled to be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., presentation of known issues to be conducted from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the actual scoping meeting to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Specific locations will be announced as soon as they become available.

Other scheduled meeting locations are: