Wolf Hearing Packs WNMU Auditorium
	Compliments of March 2000

Clarification Friday's story about a wolf-reintroduction hearing in Silver City contained three inaccuracies. One of the speakers was Sharon Morgan, not Sarah Morgan. The wolves initially were released in Arizona in April 1998, not 1997. And there are an estimated 2,500 wolves in northern Minnesota, not 250. Also, some readers disagreed with the reporter's judgment that "a slight majority" of those at the hearing were "appearing" to favor wolf reintroduction. The statement was based on the crowd's response when a speaker asked supporters to stand.

By JIM OWEN

Daily Press Staff

So many people turned out Thursday night for a public hearing about wolf reintroduction, the meeting had to be moved to a bigger facility.

A crowd of about 850 jammed the Fine Arts Center Theatre at Western New Mexico University, after campus police determined the throng was too large for Light Hall Auditorium.

A stream of people took two-minute turns at the podium, passionately arguing for or against releasing Mexican gray wolves into the Gila Wilderness.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hearing followed a similar session Wednesday night in Reserve, attended by about 300 people, to receive public comments on an environmental assessment regarding the proposed "translocation" of wolves previously released into Arizona's Blue Range.

Some of the animals would be moved to the Gila to prevent conflicts with people and livestock, and to provide for the wolves' prey and territory requirements.

There is a "very compelling management need," according to Wendy Brown of the wolf recovery team, to approve the four translocation sites McKenna Park, Chicken Coop and Creel canyons, Miller Springs and Halfmoon Park.

Those arriving for the hearing were greeted by sign-waving wolf supporters. Information tables provided literature on both sides of the issue.

Brown said Thursday night's crowd was the largest to attend a meeting about wolves in the Southwest.

She gave a brief history of the species and the reintroduction effort, which began in April 1997 with the release of a family of wolves south of Alpine, Ariz.

Thirty-five of the animals have been freed in Arizona, and seven pups have been born in the wild. Only seven wolves are in the woods now, because five were shot and others were rounded up to protect cattle.

"We've had a very high recapture rate due to conflicts with livestock," Brown said, noting that the agency has confirmed eight depredations since the program began.

"The depredation rate is higher than we would like it to be, (but) it's still within the scope of (the agency's projections)," she said.

Addressing concerns that wolves might attack children, Brown told the crowd: "All wild animals are potentially dangerous, (but) aggressive interactions between wolves and humans have been extremely rare.

"I know of seven (cases) in North America, and only two of those (involved) serious injuries," she continued. "I don't think people should live in fear of having wolves on the landscape."

Brown said there are enough deer and elk in the Apache and Gila national forests to support 100 wolves, the population goal set by her agency.

More than 80 percent of wild prey killed by reintroduced Mexican gray wolves reportedly have been elk.

Brown summarized three options outlined in the environmental assessment.

Alternative A would involve construction of large, outdoor holding pens in the wilderness. Wolves would be kept inside the pens until they acclimate to their new environment.

Alternative B calls for "hard-release" techniques, with no pens.

Alternative C would be no translocation of wolves to the Gila.

Thursday night's crowd was split on the question, with a slight majority appearing to favor translocation.

The first speakers giving testimony were state Rep. Don Tripp of Catron County and the county's manager, Adam Polley. They favored Alternative C.

"I have received overwhelming calls in opposition to the project," Tripp said, pointing out that some of his constituents are worried about their children and dogs. Fewer people might visit the area because of their fear of wolves, he said.

Polley claimed "the proposed release sites do not meet the criteria" set by the Fish and Wildlife Service, because they are too close to towns and other human habitation.

He mentioned that the Catron County Commission approved a resolution against the proposal, and that U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and U.S. Rep. Joe Skeen also oppose it.

Julie Hicks, communications director for Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca, spoke in favor of translocation.

"A wolf population draws tourism and generates economic development," she said, citing a boom in tourist-related businesses in the Yellowstone Park area following wolf reintroduction there.

Sarah Matsumoto of the Albuquerque-based Grassroots Environmental Network also backed the soft-release option.

She said it would have "many positive impacts on other species," as wolves would help keep elk off streamsides. That would result in healthier riparian habitats for fish and birds, according to Matsumoto.

She ended her testimony by quoting conservationist Aldo Leo- pold, who wrote about the need for wolves to trim the herds of their prey.

Susan Swaim of Beaverhead received a standing ovation from part of the crowd when she said:

"I have been insulted. My family and my neighbors have been insulted. Yet another government program is being crammed down our throats, and I don't like it."

Todd Schulke of Pinos Altos, representing the Southwest Forest Alliance's 65,000 coalition members in New Mexico and Arizona, supported Alternative A.

"My two sons have grown up here," he said. "They have learned to live out in the woods with mountain lions, rattlesnakes and coyotes. They're not scared."

Other speakers said they were afraid for their children.

Jon Swapp of Greenlee County, Ariz., noted that groups of kids take backpacking trips into the wilderness.

"It's just a matter of time before we have wolf-human interactions," he said.

Mary Ann Baruch of Mimbres, representing New Mexico People for the USA, agreed.

"Many of these (translocation release) sites are within 20 miles of an inhabited area, and these wolves are known to travel 20-50 miles a day," she said. "There is private property along the Mimbres, with livestock. Elk often come to the river. The elk will bring the wolves into populated areas."

Jodie Faust of Catron County said the release sites are "too close to private land, grazing land and tourist attractions."

Hugh B. McKeen, a Catron County rancher, added: "Research has proven that elk follow cattle. The wolf is going to follow the elk, leave the wilderness and go where the cattle are."

"They're not going to stay in that little area," said Teresa Tackman of Alma, who described herself as an elementary teacher and rancher's wife. "If you're going to do it, fence them in ... or buy out the ranchers."

However, former rancher's wife Deirdre Wolf pointed out that "Minnesota has 250 wolves, and no one has been eaten yet."

Laura Schneberger of Winston, representing the 120 members of the Gila Forest Permittees, said: "We don't need to see our pregnant cows slaughtered by animals that were removed for a reason."

She claimed there have been 52 cattle depredations since the reintroduction began, rather than the eight kills confirmed by the government.

Ken Swaim of Beaverhead said a neighboring rancher lost a cow last week to a wolf.

"If one comes on my property, I'm going to kill him," Swaim said. "I want that on the record."

Ranchers are reimbursed for their losses by a nonprofit conservation group when it can be proven a cow was killed by a wolf.

"Cattle are product," said Deirdre Wolf. "If you get reimbursed, who cares who eats the beef? What other business gets paid for its losses?"

Yvonne Boudreaux of Albuquerque, a member of Animal Protection of New Mexico and the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, agreed. "You all get paid for it, so why does it matter who eats it?" she asked.

However, according to Joneen Cockran, "it's almost impossible, with the rules they have, to confirm a kill."

She agreed with Baruch, hunter James L. Dines, outfitter Jack Diamond and others that the Gila Wilderness has insufficient prey for wolves.

"The wolf population will increase ... and domestic livestock will become the main prey base," said David McCauley, president of the Grant County Cattle Growers Association. "The (presence of) 100 wolves will have more than a 'marginal impact' on (grazing operations), as stated in the environmental assessment."

Boudreaux argued in favor of translocation. She urged the agency to "do it now; don't wait another 25 years to right this wrong."

Boudreaux said the wolves' "right to be here in the Gila predates the rights of every person in this room. Opponents are consumed by their overwhelming self-interest ... and superstitions from the Middle Ages."

Sarah Morgan added: "People are tired of the belligerence and name-calling by wolf opponents. We have a chance to make some small amends. It's time to do the right thing."

A man who did not identify himself elicited enthusiastic applause when he said: "I'm not willing to sacrifice the best chance we've had for reintroduction of the wolf, just so I can have 99-cent hamburgers."

George Lemen and Jim Wetzel called for the drafting of a new environmental impact statement. The Fish and Wildlife Service is operating under the EIS it wrote in 1996 for reintroducing wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.

But Jean Ossorio of Las Cruces said: "It's hard to imagine what has happened since 1996 that would necessitate another expensive, time-consuming EIS."

Glenn Robinson of Albuquerque, a member of Animal Protection of New Mexico, said "the issue has been studied to death."

Wetzel pointed out that supporters of the program "don't have to live with (wolves) and the consequences they bring. It doesn't affect their way of life. ... We need to stop the wolf welfare $7 million to date (spent on the reintroduction effort)."

Tackman added: "I'm sick of people from urban areas telling us how to live and what to do."

Jake Osborn of Mimbres said: "Hard-working ranchers, loggers and miners have become the bad guys ... to suit the whims of environmentalists."

Deirdre Wolf said the Gila Wilderness "is the perfect place for the species."

Ossorio agreed. "Wilderness needs the wolf as much as the wolf needs the the wilderness," she said. "The abundance of prey, and the lack of roads and livestock, make it an ideal location. Stock-raising is not one use (of the wilderness) to be exalted above all others."

Kestrel Blackburn, who lives south of Alpine, was the only speaker to favor Alternative B. "Let's do it right; let's stop feeding them supplementally," he said.

"People have told me they don't hate wolves; they hate the government," Blackburn added.

Terry Lengerich, explaining that he was speaking "on behalf of some friends who couldn't make it," let loose with a spirited howl.

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