Board of Supervisors says no to expanding Mexican wolf territory

8/17/2014
(Courtesy photo) Joanna Dodder Nellans The Daily Courier COTTONWOOD - The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors will take a second shot at Mexican wolves Monday. The board previously opposed the expansion of the endangered wolves' territory into Yavapai County, and now that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a second round of comments, the board is reiterating its stance. "These wolves would pose a serious threat to wildlife, private property and especially the livestock that our ranchers depend on for their livelihood," a draft board letter states. The board prefers to see the state manage the wolves. Monday's meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the county offices at 10 South 6th St. in Cottonwood. Fish and Wildlife reviewed last year's public comments and came up with a revised proposal to help the wolf population recover. Both the old and new proposal envision expanding the wolves' range into more of Arizona and New Mexico, including Yavapai County, The new proposal would also allow the release of certain wolves in this region. And it would expand the cases in which people could kill the wolves. Comments on the new proposal and study are due by Sept. 22. For more details about the proposal, go online to fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf. Other items on the board's Monday agenda include: • Set primary and secondary property tax rates for all the taxing entities in the county. • Approve memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Forest Service and Yavapai County Sheriff's Office relating to search and rescue and law enforcement operations in national forests. The MOU allows the Sheriff's Office to take motorized vehicles into wilderness areas in certain circumstances. • Approve $10,000 increase in the U.S. Geological Survey's contribution to the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee's hydrologic monitoring program. The board voted to stop being the fiscal agent for the committee next month. To see the entire agenda and backup materials for Monday's meeting, go online to Yavapai.us/bos and click on "BOS meetings" then "Meetings 2007-Present."							source