GOP Rep. Pearce wants southwest wolves dead
El lobo targeted by wildlife hating RepublicansWASHINGTON -- Congress is expected to vote on the future of southwest wolves tomorrow.
In one of the great conservation accomplishments of the 20th century, the “lobo” was reintroduced to Arizona and New Mexico in 1998 after being driven to extinction in the wild during the early part of the last century.
These captive-bred wolves and their wild offspring have done well -- forming packs, hunting elk, pairing up and having pups. Left alone, these wolves thrive. Unfortunately, they’ve struggled against welfare ranchers, illegal killing and mismanagement.
Just 59 southwest wolves now remain, and some Republicans in Congress want to end federal efforts to save them. An amendment expected to be offered tomorrow by US Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) would eliminate funding for the southwest wolf reintroduction program -- completely ending the program and dooming the wolves to extinction.
In preparation for the vote, Pearce and his anti-wolf gang have even stooped to spreading lies about the southwest wolf recovery program, circulating factually inaccurate reports of wolf attacks. At a recent hearing on the Endangered Species Act, Pearce even made the outrageous statement that “Nothing is more attractive to a wolf than the sound of a crying baby.”
The truth is there is not one documented case of a healthy, wild wolf killing a human in the United States. In fact, you are more likely to be killed by a meteorite than a wild wolf.
- adapted from NMWA
UPDATE, 6/26: Pearce's amendment failed. Rep. Giffords, Grijalva and other AZ Dems voted no, along with 38 R's from other states. All AZ GOP Reps. voted against wildlife.
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