County Livestock Loss Authority show support for Catron County

The County Livestock Loss Authority (CLLA) board approved 10 claims, discussed the current wolf situation and agreed to allow Grant County to join the CLLA at their last meeting on May 6.

Catron

Board members Audrey McQueen and Tom Paterson reported their attendance at a meeting with Game and Fish about the wolf situation in Catron County. McQueen said they requested to be on their agenda, and Game and Fish allowed them to present on the wolf issue in Catron County.

“We’re just trying to educate the Game Commission on what is actually going on down in Catron County, on the ground,” McQueen said.

Paterson said the commission repeatedly asked what they could do to help. McQueen confirmed that Catron County prepared and sent the directors a revised list of action items.

“Catron County has certainly been busy at it, and cattle growers really appreciate the diligence with which they’re approaching this,” Paterson said.

McQueen said Cibola County voted to support them, and it was scheduled on Socorro County’s agenda for May 13th.

“I think we’re gathering a lot of support, and it’s going to take all of us to band together,” McQueen said.

The board discussed a recent incident that involved a woman who shot a wolf.

“There was also a wolf in Cibola County, just right on the northern tip of Catron, shot last week. It charged a lady who was walking up to a dead calf, and I guess she shot it in the face. It was coming straight at her on a dead run,” McQueen said.

Paterson said a broad coalition has been supporting an initiative to talk about what it’s like living among wolves.

“The response to Catron County’s commission meeting was that Catron County is a bunch of nut jobs who don’t know what they’re talking about, and there’s nothing really on social media to respond to that…you should be seeing more of that coming here in the next week or so.” Paterson said.

Board Member Jim Paxton added that there have been 49 confirmed depredations since the beginning of the year. He said last year, there were 73 confirmed.

Payments and fiscal transfer

Deb Mahler, CLLA Administrator reported the status of payments from 2022 and 2023. The board discussed the complexity of timing payments based on the complaint received to date and the quarter in which the depredation occurred.

Mahler explained that the transfer of fiscal agency from Sierra to Catron County was delayed due to pending payments from NMDA. She reported 21 unprocessed claims from Sierra County totaling over $15,000.

Patricia Depner, program specialist of the NMDA, confirmed that once NMDA pays Sierra County’s invoice, they can open a purchase order with Catron County.

Paterson emphasized the need to get payments to livestock producers quickly and Depner suggested the lag time to complete the transfer would be minimal - potentially just a day or two once the invoice is paid.

Ex officio members

The board also discussed the potential inclusion of Grant County as an ex officio member. Paxon explained that according to the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) and bylaws, they can appoint ex officio members with board approval.

The board agreed that ex officio members can request agenda items and be fully involved in discussions but cannot vote until another county joins to maintain an odd number of directors, as stated in their bylaws.

Paterson said the benefits of ex officio membership would allow new counties to learn about the organization and understand the complexities of wolf depredation issues.

The board voted to invite Grant County as an ex officio member, with the understanding that they might become a full voting member in the future and might be expected to contribute financially.