NMGCA Plans Appeal
Of Wolf Suit Ruling

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The lawyer for the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association in its lawsuit to stop the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest says she expects to appeal the summary judgment of a federal judge in New Mexico.

"We've got 60 days," she says

Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin L. Mechem issued a 48-page order Oct. 28, dismissing a lawsuit brought by the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association in an effort to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf in New Mexico.

In his dismissal, Mechem rejected the association's claims that the wolves being released are not genetically pure and are hybrids of dogs and wolves. He also rejected the association's claims that wolves still roam the mountains of the Southwest, therefore making it unnecessary to introduce more.

While government lawyers argued that the cattlemen did not have standing to bring a suit, the judge did agree with NMCGA on this issue.

"He ruled that the cattlemen did have standing to challenge the decision, but we were not harmed," says Karen Budd-Falen, counsel for the New Mexico Cattle Growers. "The government claimed that the permittees were not harmed, therefore, we did not have standing. The judge agreed with us that we were harmed and did have standing, but he says that as long as the Fish and Wildlife Service considers an issue, that is good enough."

Budd-Falen expects to appeal Mechem's decision through the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

She will meet with the New Mexico Cattle Growers in early December to discuss that decision.