Wolves are playing catchup

Arizona Daily Sun (Original) Letter to the Editor Posted February 28, 2016 by Gaylene Soper

To the editor:

A few comments regarding 'Will wolves be closer to Flagstaff' article if I may.

To Mr. Bray of the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, I would like to say "No" we do NOT need to start from square one. This effort has been proven and supported over and over, you just do not like the answer. And I am curious as to why federal officials have not been searching and vetting new locations from the day the New Rule went into effect. While I do appreciate that, after 30 years, this is a step forward it seems that the dragging of feet is why we are 30 years behind in saving this endangered species.

Mr. Whiting, of Navajo County, must have missed the meetings in Pinetop where 200 people, not "a few locals," spoke in favor of wolf releases. And then there are the ongoing campaigns of letter writing, volunteering, petitions signed by hundreds in Flagstaff alone. Defenders of Wildlife has a very successful program using Range Riders and working side by side with local ranchers, a win win for wolves and ranchers -- why do we not hear about that?

Thank you for this very detailed article but we need to get busy, we do NOT have 20 more years.

GAYLENE D. SOPER

Flagstaff