Suit Brought To Help Stop The Extinction Of The Endangered Mexican Wolf

We today filed a lawsuit with the Center for Biological Diversity challenging the Fish and Wildlife Service’s delay in improving conditions for the Mexican Wolf – a species teetering on the brink of extinction in the Southwest.  Although the species was reintroduced in the late 1990s after being exterminated largely by the livestock industry, the FWS has failed to implement important measures to assure the survival and recovery of the species.  As a result, only about 58 wolves remain in the wild – far below the 102 the FWS said were needed by 2006 to ensure the species’ recovery.  In addition to severely restricting the areas in which the wolves may disperse, the agency removes wolves caught preying on livestock – most recently resulting in the separation of a female from her five newborn pups who are not expected to survive the winter without her.  The lawsuit, which was filed in the federal district court in D.C., seeks a court order requiring the agency to finish a rule-making it started over six years ago to address the Center’s request for stronger measures to ensure the wolf’s recovery.