Update (April 22, 2014): Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the bill.
Update (February, 2014): This bill was amended on the Senate floor. The changes are reflected in the italicized and stricken portions of the Bill Description below.
Bill Description:
This bill widens the circumstances in which Mexican gray wolves may be “taken,” which in this case means to be trapped or otherwise killed. It allows an employee of the Department of Agriculture or a livestock operator to take any wolf that has been documented or caught in the act of killing livestock.
A landowner or lessee, who is a livestock operator or their agents may take any wolf under any of the following circumstances:
• Any wolf actually engaged in the act of killing, wounding or biting livestock.
• By livestock guarding dogs, when the dogs are used in the traditional manner to protect livestock.
• This In self defense or the defense of the lives of others, provided the taking is reported within 24 hours to APHIS’ Mexican wolf recovery coordinator or a designated rep.
[teaserbreak]Additionally, any bear, wolf, or mountain lion that threatens public health or safety is subject to taking. “Public health or safety” is not defined, and the vague term could be used to justify a wide range hunting and trapping activities.
Existing law provides a list of ways that bears and mountain lions may be taken, and this bill authorizes the use of these methods on wolves who pose a threat to livestock or the public. These methods include leghold traps, and snares, and hunting with dogs.
Background
Read our Mexican gray wolf fact sheet for more information on this amazing – and severely endangered – species.
Check out our trapping page to learn more about these brutal devices, which government employees and livestock operators may use to kill wolves.
Take Action:
Arizona residents, thank Governor Brewer for vetoing this bill!
Read the full text here.