Representative Paul Gosar had some interesting things to say about Mexican gray wolves last week. Unfortunately, not a lot of it was true. But thankfully, we’re here to help keep things accurate!
Transcript:
Gosar: First I want to bring up this experimental 10j Mexican wolf population that terrorizes my state and New Mexico. Unbelievable, U.S. maintains protections for the Mexican wolf while the recovery exists in Mexico.
Text: Mexican gray wolves have recovered to an estimated 250 individuals in the United States.
Gosar: Okay, this bad policy threatens the direct livelihood of the ranchers and must come to an end.
Text: Cattle are more likely to be killed by lightning strikes than by wolf attacks.
Gosar: Do you know how much the federal government spent managing this population between 2019 and 2021?
Burgum: No. I’m sorry, I don’t know that number, sir.
Gosar: Okay. It’s about $9 million.
Text: This is approximately .19% of the entire USFWS budget
Gosar: Okay. Was any of that spent on payments for livestock related losses? If not, how much did the government spend? Do you know that?
Burgum: I, I’m unfamiliar with with the those numbers from the prior administration.
Gosar: Okay, so that’s about, 1.6 million. Okay.
Text: Yes, the program pays for livestock losses and also works with ranchers to develop coexistence tools. This is a good thing.
Gosar: I will soon be introducing legislation that will delist and delink the Mexican wolf and look forward to working with you to further protecting Western ranchers from this experimental program.
Text: And we look forward to continuing to protect this incredible species.
Defenders of Wildlife works on the ground, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and habitats across North America.
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