Mexican gray wolves are critical keystone predators that maintain ecosystem balance by regulating prey populations like elk and deer. Their presence prevents overgrazing by herbivores, allowing vegetation to regenerate, improving riparian habitats, and supporting biodiversity among birds, fish, and other wildlife.
This week is Lobo Week and to help us celebrate the 28th anniversary of the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves into the wild, Representative Mariana Sandoval read a supportive resolution on the floor of the House. You can watch it and here , advance to 27:28 unless you want to listen to the rest of the floor session. Next Monday, Senator Priya Sundareshan will sponsor a similar proclamation on the floor of the Senate. Tune in to hear that around 1:15 PM by going to this link on the Legislature's website and clicking the Senate. To help us celebrate Lobo Week, please take action on the bills below.
SB1280 Public monies; Mexican wolf; Prohibition (Farnsworth) would prohibit the Arizona Game and Fish Commission from transporting Mexican gray wolf puppies into Arizona and also from spending any money for transporting wolf puppies into the state. This is a direct attack on the current federal efforts to improve the genetic diversity of Mexican gray wolves in the wild, and undermines the science-based administration of the Endangered Species Act.
HB2787 federal nullification; Mexican wolf; reintroduction (Diaz) prohibits the state from administering, enforcing, or cooperating or spending any money on Mexican gray wolf reintroduction and recovery. This is another short-sighted bill to hinder wolf recovery and would ensure that the state wildlife agency would have little say in the wolf recovery program.
