Press Releases

Washington, DC -- Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement following the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries legislative hearing regarding H.R. 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals (ESA) Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Gosar delisting the Mexican wolf from the Endangered Species Act and delinking its populations in the United States and Mexico:

“I am very grateful to Chair Hageman for holding today’s critical legislative hearing on the importance of advancing my legislation delisting Mexican wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Since being reintroduced to the wild in Arizona, Mexican wolves have significantly grown in population.  In fact, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared in 2024 that the Mexican wolf population had nearly doubled its recovery goal in the United States.  Additionally, another 350 Mexican wolves are currently being housed in captive breeding facilities.  Yet the wolf has remained on the Endangered Species list since 1982.  

Since that time, Mexican wolves have preyed on cattle, horses, elk, sheep and even family pets, causing significant financial losses and economic hardship on family-run ranches as the uncontrolled and unmanaged wolf populations have been allowed to roam free.  In response, local governments in New Mexico, Arizona and Indian nations have been forced to issue disaster declarations due to the thousands of dollars in economic losses, missing cattle and heightened danger caused by the Mexican wolves.

Now a stable population, the Mexican wolf has grown steadily since being reintroduced to the wild. Today’s legislative hearing was an important next step in ensuring my legislation delisting the Mexican wolf from the ESA is brought to the House floor for a vote,” stated Congressman Gosar.

The Arizona Cattle Growers Association is grateful for Congressman Gosar's leadership in finally addressing the damaging Mexican wolf program. The original recovery benchmark of the wolf population was met years ago. It makes no sense for ranchers to bear the ongoing loss of their livestock because we are waiting for Mexico to increase its wolf population. It is time to delist these predators and let American ranchers continue to raise high-quality beef,” added Arizona Cattle Growers Association President, Brian deGanahl.

“Rural communities are currently facing the grave consequences from an apex predator that should be delisted. Due to past management focused principally on population numbers, we no longer just have a livestock crisis with Mexican wolves. Mexican wolves now stalk local kids and the elderly, snatch and kill cats and dogs off front porches in town and even kill our kids’ horses. Wolves are a constant presence around our homes and school yards. Our residents are reluctant to walk in the woods because of wolves. Mexican wolves have also killed my cattle, causing severe economic stress to our operation and to other producers. Thank you to the Subcommittee members for considering this critical legislation and to Congressman Paul Gosar for introducing it, stated New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) President-Elect Tom Paterson.