Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan, Second Revision, for the Mexican Wolf

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

Fewer than 196 Mexican gray wolves still survive in the Southwest U.S., making these wolves one of the rarest native species in the region. Most of their deaths are caused by humans, and illegal killing is a huge threat to their continued survival. The power to protect them lies with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): By adopting and enforcing strict Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, the FWS can reduce illegal killings and give these wolves a chance to recover.

I support the adoption and enforcement of the strictest Endangered Species Act protections for endangered Mexican gray wolves to reduce the risk of illegal killing. In particular, I ask that you increase law enforcement presence during hunting seasons and increase prosecution of poachers. Please also consider increasing funding and staff and improving public outreach to reduce wolf mortality. I also ask that you include firm requirements to use non-lethal resolution in wolf-livestock conflicts and release more captive wolves in more places to improve genetic diversity and hardiness for the species. Thank you for considering taking action to prevent the killing and extinction of Mexican gray wolves.