Renzi Votes to End Failed Program

Amendment to Block Mexican Wolf Recovery Program WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) voted in favor of an amendment to the FY 2008 Interior and Environment Appropriations, H.R. 2643, which would have ended the failed Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. The amendment, introduced by Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM), highlighted some of the problems rural Arizonans have encountered since the federal government reintroduced captive-reared Mexican wolves into national forests in 1998. Thus far, the program has spent over $14 million to release and manage only 59 wolves into national forests in Arizona and New Mexico. During debate on the amendment, Rep. Pearce cited a recent case in New Mexico where reintroduced wolves attacked a family dog in a New Mexico barnyard. Approximately one month later, the same pack of wolves returned to the barnyard and killed and ate the family horse. "This incident, along with many others, clearly shows that the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program is not properly managed and that wolves have become a threat to humans, livestock, and pets," said Congressman Renzi. "I believe that the safety of rural Arizonans should take precedent over the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf." The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reintroduced captive-reared Mexican wolves into national forests in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico in 1998. Since this program was implemented, USFWS has not succeeded in properly managing the reintroduced Mexican wolf population. Ranchers in Arizona and New Mexico have suffered extreme loss and damages from wolf predation of their livestock and has placed a huge burden on ranchers without compensation directly from USFWS or necessary management tools.