Arizona proposal would limit Mexican wolf releases and puppy transport

The commission would have to try to make an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about wolf releases, moves, and cross-fostering in Arizona. The rules would cover Mexican gray wolves released, moved, or cross-fostered in Arizona. The agreement would have to say that these activities may not occur within three miles of state trust land or private property, or without a full DNA profile for each wolf. The commission would have to seek the agreement before any release, move, or cross-fostering in Arizona.

The department would have to report wolf-related information to the commission at every commission meeting. Reports would cover Mexican gray wolves in Arizona, including wolves captured by the department or a federal agency working with it. Reports would include known deaths and their reasons, feeding numbers and costs, captures and their reasons with DNA profiles, collar locations, and incidents involving people or domestic animals. Reports would be due at every commission meeting; the text gives no start date.

The commission could not transport Mexican gray wolf puppies into Arizona or use public money or resources for that transportation. The restrictions would apply to the commission and to transporting Mexican gray wolf puppies across Arizona’s borders.