Arizona’s Navajo County ban wolf releases
New county ordinance bans wolf release with little hope of enforcement
by Donna Rescorla, The White Mountain Independent
posted on Wolf Crossing [here]
HOLBROOK - The Navajo County Board of Supervisors passed a new ordinance - that has little chance of enforcement - for the message it sends.
An ordinance prohibiting the release of wolves and specifying criminal penalties for violations was proposed by Board Chairman J.R. DeSpain at the May 6 supervisors meeting.
”I want to give you some background,” he said, holding up a copy of the Pioneer newspaper. “They reported that in New Mexico cages were built for the children who were waiting to catch the bus because of the fear of being attacked by wolves.
”It’s pretty ironic to have to cage kids to protect them from wildlife. This ordinance is in conflict with the federal program to release to the wild, but we are the Board of Supervisors for Navajo County and have the right to protect our citizens.”
He said the new habitat proposed by federal Fish and Wildlife would open up all of Arizona for the release program.
”I’m a rancher from the Winslow area, and I want to go on record as being with you,” Jim O’Haco said. “I’m against enlarging the wolf areas in central Arizona. Wolves are killers, predators. … [more here].
