Wildlife Service Admits Shooters Killed Five Mexican Gray Wolves
11/10/98
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Title: Wildlife Service Admits Shooters Killed Five Mexican Gray Wolves
Source: Southwest Center for Biological Diversity
Status: Distribute freely with proper credit to source
Date: 11/10/98
After being pressured and sued to release information about the suspicious
deaths of several endangered Mexican grey wolves, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service admitted today that four of the wolves were shot, and a
fifth likely died because its mother was shot.
The first wolf was shot in April by Richard Humprheys. The U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service refused to prosecute him even though he clearly changed
his story after learning that self-defense is the only acceptible reason
for killing an endangered species. His claim that the wolf was charging
his family was contradicted by the forensics report which determined the
wolf was shot from the side while standing still. After being freed from
possible charges, Humphreys and the killer of a Montana grizzly bear were
the featured speakers at an anti-enviromental gathering in Glenwood, NM.
The second wolf was shot in August, the third in October, and the fourth
last Saturday. The first wild born Mexican grey wolf is missing and
presumed dead. Its mother was one of the murdered wolves. The agency
previously claimed she was killed by a lion, but now admits she was shot.
The Fish & Wildlife Service is likely correct that an effort is underway
to undermine the reintroduction program, but is itself to blame for
refusing to prosecute the first killing, sending a message that killing
wolves will be tolerated.
Kier n Suckling ksuckling@sw-center.org
Executive Director 520.623.5252 phone
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity 520.623.9797 fax
http://www.sw-center.org pob 710, tucson, az 85702-
710