Student group says University should help Mexican gray wolf – News
by Bryan Gibel, Daily Lobo
The Mexican gray wolf is UNM’s namesake, but a student group said the University isn’t doing enough to protect its mascot.
The UNM Wilderness Alliance issued a resolution in September demanding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service improve its Mexican gray wolf reintroduction program.
The resolution also urged University administration to issue “institutional policies and official resolutions” in support of Mexican gray wolves.
“UNM could be a major block of support for the Mexican gray wolf,” UNM Wilderness Alliance President Phil Carter said. “The University is way overdue in defending their mascot. This is their chance to do that.” …
The reintroduction program shouldn’t exist because it threatens the livelihood of ranchers in New Mexico, said Brian Phillips, a spokesman for Rep. Steve Pearce.
Pearce’s district covers most of the area where wolves are being reintroduced in southern and central New Mexico.
“They’ve killed and eaten horses down to the bone, and we’ve seen tracks running right up to people’s doors,” Phillips said. “There’s a girl who’s 11 or 12 years old that has to wear a gun on the ranch to protect herself from wolves.”
Pearce introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress last legislative session to end the wolf reintroduction program, but the bill did not pass.
Phillips said Pearce won’t let that failure stop him from trying to end the wolf reintroduction program. [mjh: Imagine Pearce as our Senator.] …
Carter said part of the problem is the federal government leases Forrest Service land to ranchers where the wolves are being reintroduced.
“This is intended as public land and thus is subject to the endangered species act,” he said. “The federal government is the landlord to these cattle ranchers, and they should revise land-use policies to minimize conflict between wolves and the livestock industry.”
Carter said wolves do not present a significant threat to ranchers in New Mexico. He said UNM and the Fish and Wildlife Service need to protect the species from extinction.
“UNM picked up this mascot in 1920 and just kind of slept while their mascot was eliminated form the country during the 20th century,” he said. “It would be a tragedy to let these animals be exterminated again, which is what is happening now.”