In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allowed the killing of endangered Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico for a week. Four Mexican gray wolves were killed. According to conservation groups, that kind of move holds a relevant setback to wolf recovery.

Based on the statement given by a representative of the agency, lethal and non-lethal methods were allowed by the agency to control the wolf population. It was the last resort for the increasing number of dead livestock for months, says an article.


Heartbreaking Killings

According to the Wolf Conservation Center's executive director Maggie Howell, the wolf killings are "heartbreaking," and it came during the 'Lobo week.' Lobo week is the celebration of the reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico and Arizona.

The killings came after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a 24 percent increase in the population of the wolves in the region from 2019 to the earlier parts of 2020. There were 163 animals counted.

According to Howell, as people are celebrating wolves, speaking about the good results of the population survey, and getting excited for the wolf population's ability to grow in the wild, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the USDA Wildlife Service are allowing the killings of the wolves.


The Four Wolves Killed

The four wolves killed were three males and one female wolf that belonged to two different packs. One of them was killed on March 23, while the remaining three were killed on March 28.


Great and Majestic Animals

According to the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association's president Randell Major, he knows why a lot of people see wolves as great and majestic animals. However, ranchers see a different side of the wolves.

Major believes that any way to remove the wolves is important. He said that they never wanted the wolves in the first place and that the wolves were forced into the region.

Ranchers feel helpless after seeing their livestock getting killed by the wolves, as Major stated. They just sit and watch as their livestock get taken away by the wolves.


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Carcasses Lead Wolves to Livestock 

Center for Biological Diversity senior conservation advocate Michael Robinson, are pointing out that the agency failed to advise scientists by not implementing several measures to keep the wolves from killing livestock such as carcass removal. Wolves are drawn to the smell of the leftover meals and other foul-smelling stuff.

According to Robinson, the wolves will get attracted to placed where there are dead cows that did not die without the intervention of any wolf. This leads the wolves to live cattle.


Wolves are Endangered

Wolves are endangered special under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Acts. However, there are exceptions to the rule. People are allowed to trap, hunt, or kill experimental populations such as the Mexican gray wolves if the federal agency believes it is necessary.