Game commisson hears hours of wolf comments

Mexican grey wolves on the New Mexico Game Commission’s agenda drew in over 200 people in person and online. At the meeting, both ranchers and wolf advocates commented, highlighting the significant divisions regarding wolves; however, the game commission acknowledged a desire for respectful dialogue and practical solutions.

The Catron Commission began the discussions with a presentation on the impact of the Mexican wolf population in their county. Commissioner Buster Green highlighted the emotional and financial stress caused by the introduction of wolves, including threats faced by landowners and officials.

Catron Commissioner Audrey McQueen noted that while ranchers are trying to coexist with wolves by changing grazing patterns and herd management, these efforts are insufficient. She stated that the true cost of wolf depredation often exceeds confirmed kills, as many losses go unreported due to the remote nature of pastures.

According to the Catron Commissioners, as of December 2024, at least 286 Mexican wolves were in New Mexico and Arizona, with a significant number in Catron County, which some believe is understated. The county generates over $17 million annually from cattle and hunting, but declining cattle and wildlife threaten tax revenue and community health.

“This crisis is spiraling out of control and requires immediate action,” McQueen said, emphasizing the impact on livestock, wildlife, and public safety. The commissioners also expressed concerns over increased human-wolf encounters and said they have been making education efforts for residents.

The commissioners acknowledged positive working relationships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives and called for continued collaboration to confirm data and work toward solutions. The commissioners stressed the need for honest, respectful dialogue and trust-building among all stakeholders.

The commissioners urged the Game Commission to work with them on population control, better collaboration with agencies, and the introduction of real-time GPS tracking for monitoring wolves.

Game Commissioners expressed appreciation for the presentation, recognized the challenges faced by Catron County, and called for respectful dialogue, transparency, collaboration and creative solutions to manage the wolf population and its impacts.

“Our job as commissioners is to hear both sides of the story, right? And we want to apply that story, and somewhere there is a truth in there, and it is scientifically based,” Game commissioner Tirzio Lopez said.

He said as a sheep farmer, he was concerned about wolves coming down from Colorado and believes Rio Arriba County will soon find itself in a situation like Catron County, “They (wolves) are part of our ecological basis. They need to be part of the landscape, but at the end of the day, we need to try to find a way to work together. And that’s why we’re here, because everybody has a voice.”

Public Input

The Game Commission listened to over 70 public comments in person and online; some commenters were as young as eight years old, and others had been in contact with wolves since the early 1990s.

The comments reflected a spectrum of perspectives—from those advocating for stronger protections for ranchers and livestock, to those urging continued or expanded wolf recovery efforts, to calls for compromise, coexistence, and science-based management. Several spoke of strategies to cut ties with Mexico, and a couple expressed disappointment in the removal of Sabrina Pack from the state game commission.

New Mexico lawmakers who spoke included State Representatives Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, Luis M. Terrazas R- Santa Clara and Jennifer Jones, R- Deming, along with Senator Gabriel Ramos, R- Silver City.

Some of the federal officials present included Stuart Jacks of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region, Paul Souza of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Brady McGee the Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Seth Willie of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Matthew Atencio, Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Socorro Field Office and Zeb Andrews Bureau of Land Management.

County commissioners from Catron, Luna, Hidalgo and Rio Arriba were also present.

During public input, ranchers and livestock producers described significant losses of cattle and other livestock due to wolf predation, the emotional and financial toll and concerns about public safety, especially for children. Many called for changes to management policies, better compensation and more effective removal of problem wolves.

Conservationists, wildlife advocates, and environmental organizations emphasized the ecological importance of wolves, the need for science-based management, and the benefits of coexistence. They advocated for nonlethal management strategies, proper carcass disposal of livestock and maintaining genetic diversity in the wolf population.

Legislators called for greater transparency, public Q&A sessions, and recognition of emergency declarations. They stressed the importance of listening to those most affected and finding balanced solutions.

What’s next?

The Game Commissioners individually responded to the public comments with an overall emphasis on working together. They thanked everyone for their input, acknowledged the wide range of perspectives, and emphasized the importance of both science and community voices in decision-making.

Game Commissioners highlighted the need to find balanced solutions, adapt management strategies, and continue asking critical questions about genetics, conflict avoidance and communication.

The Pacific/ Southwest Regional Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Paul Souza, was asked to comment.

“I think it’s heartening that people can come together and have this conversation. I can tell you, deep in our core and our philosophy, we care about the people in wolf country. In the Fish and Wildlife Service’s culture, we have a deep relationship with farming and ranching. In our view, they’re part of the solution.” Souza said.

Sauza promised to be a committed partner in the endeavor.

“Great meeting. What’s next?” asked Game Commissioner Sharon Salazar Hickey.

No action was taken on Mexican grey wolves during the meeting. Game commissioners expressed a commitment to using the public’s feedback to inform future actions and to maintain open, collaborative dialogue moving forward.

Editor’s note: A full video of the meeting can be found on the NM Game Commission YouTube Channel.