In two letters dated June 1 and June 2, 2015, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish denied the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s requests for permits to import and release up to 10 Mexican wolf pups to facilitate cross fostering, as well as a permit to release a pair of wolves and associated pups in New Mexico. The Service appealed the Department’s release permit denial to the Game Commission on August 27. The Commission deferred until September 29 its ruling on FWS’s release permit request.
FWS Statement in Response to New Mexico State Game Commission Deferral of FWS’s Appeal for Mexican Wolf Permits
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service appreciates the opportunity to meet with the New Mexico State Game Commission to discuss our appeal. We look forward to the Commission’s planned September 29 ruling on our appeal request seeking a State permit to release Mexican wolves in New Mexico.
We aim to support natural wild wolf population growth and improve population genetics, eventually leading to species recovery and state management of the species. Strategic releases of genetically desirable wolves are urgently needed while the population is still small.
Recovery of the Mexican wolf remains our goal. It is our hope that New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will support recovery of the Mexican wolf as they do a host of other threatened and endangered species in the state.
Mexican Wolf Recovery Program Appeal Hearing USFWS 27Aug2015
