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Supervisors plan May work session with Eastern Arizona Counties Coalition on gray wolf policy and local impacts
Summary
The board set a May work session with the Eastern Arizona Counties Coalition to discuss gray wolf presence and potential county actions; supervisors and staff discussed population-tracking limits, rancher concerns and options for state and federal advocacy.
Cochise County supervisors said they will host Pascal from the Eastern Arizona Counties Coalition in May for a work session on gray wolves, endangered-species status and potential local responses.
Board members and staff described recent tracking data showing collared wolves moving into parts of the county and noted rancher concerns over livestock safety. One supervisor described receiving a tracking report that a collared wolf had moved several miles across local terrain into the Chiricahua area; staff emphasized the value of expert briefings to explain monitoring limitations and legal constraints.
Participants discussed how federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing decisions and the state Game and Fish role affect local management options. Supervisors said they expect the coalition briefing to cover what actions counties can take, what state authority might apply, and how to coordinate messaging to local residents. One supervisor suggested a press release and outreach so affected communities and ranchers know about the session and can follow up.
No formal resolution was adopted at the work session. Staff said the coalition briefing is tentatively scheduled for mid-May and that the board will consider possible state- or county-level advocacy steps after hearing from the coalition and local experts.
