Commentary: Senator Crystal Diamond (District 34-Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Luna, and Sierra) today sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) expressing her opposition to the planned translocation of Mexican gray wolves to the Ladder Ranch, in Sierra County. In the letter addressed to the Coordinator of the federal Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, Senator Diamond criticized FWS for failing to provide sufficient notice to local producers and agriculture groups, noting the threat these wolves pose to local livestock.
“These wolves have a known history of livestock depredation and their proposed translocation site at the Ladder Ranch is within five miles of active livestock grazing pastures,” said Senator Diamond. “The suggestion that these wolves will remain within the boundaries of the Ranch is highly improbable, and without a liability and compensation plan in place for future kills, our local producers will pay the price.”
Under the FWS plan, two wolves with a documented history of cattle and horse kills are scheduled to be translocated to the Ladder Ranch this month, along with their pups. The two wolves have been previously removed from the wild multiple times due to past incidents.