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Sheriff says Mexican wolf program needs new management after rancher complaints; calls for federal action
Summary
Sheriff Mark Danos described ongoing tensions over Mexican wolf management, criticized US Fish and Wildlife’s engagement with ranchers, and said Arizona Game and Fish now oversees aspects of the program; he said he has appealed to federal offices and that local congressional staff are involved.
Sheriff Mark Danos discussed long‑running disputes over Mexican wolf management in Cochise County, saying residents and ranchers have reported livestock losses and that federal management has strained relationships with local stakeholders.
“This is about a management control of a protected species,” Danos said. He described attending public meetings and said he saw “disrespect” from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff toward ranchers. “When you hear a cow that's been killed by a wolf…you see your a cow or a wolf that's unchipped that's on somebody's property,” he said, and added he has tried to contact Fish and Wildlife staff directly with little success.
Danos said portions of the program are now governed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and that he has sought federal attention to find “middle ground” between protection and ranching livelihoods. On behalf of a local growers group he said he submitted a cover letter to the White House and that some Arizona congressional offices are working on the issue.
He emphasized the stakes for Cochise County’s ranching community and said more active management and listening by federal agencies are needed to avoid escalating conflict. No new federal action or court outcomes were announced on the broadcast; Danos framed his remarks as a call for renewed management and engagement rather than a description of a formal change in law or policy.
