Roadblocks

Although the conservation of the Mexican Gray Wolf is a geared towards a wonderful cause, the reintroduction of the species is not well received by all. Wolves are heavily known for preying on livestock which places ranchers in the region at anything but ease. Although the wolves are currently protected by the ESA, hunters and ranchers still illegally kill wolves in order to protect their livestock to this day. Earlier this month, a wolf was fatally shot in Arizona and there is even a reward set out for information on the shooting (Associated Press ). Illegal killings is a main cause of why the restoration project is not meeting up to its expected values. 

Although the protection of the wolves through the ESA is often challenged, it is still a shield for the protection of the Mexican gray wolf to some degree. Without the protection, the preservation of the species is going to be difficult to progress forward. In March 2012, it was proposed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to remove the the federal protection for the gray wolves that are still under the  Endangered Species Act after wolves from certain regions such as the Rocky Mountains were stripped of their protections in 2011 (Staff infoZine). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says they will still consider protection for subspecies or breeding populations like the Mexican gray wolves (Staff infoZine).

It is detrimental to the preservation of the Mexican gray wolves if they are no longer protected under the ESA since the biggest issue in preserving wolves has been public opposition especially from livestock industries (Fallon). With previous removals and possibility of further removal, the uproar and the pressure on the states by the public is intense with method suggestions of reducing the wolf population through hunting, trapping and other forms of removal (Fallon). Some states have gone as far as to suggesting the allowance of humans to kill the wolves in order to increase their tolerance for them (The Humane Society of the United States). 

Politics seem to influence state and federal regulators than science, logic, and humanity. State governments will take full advantage of the the reduced protection through implementing their own state wolf management plans if wolves are completely removed of the endangered species list. Thus in order to preserve the Mexican gray wolf, there needs to be some implementation to promote public coexistence with the wolves. Also, the means non-fatal plans to promote livestock and wolf coexistence as well. The negative connotations and misconceptions towards wolves stems from the beliefs that they are massive carnivores; this isn't always the case. In 2003, it was noted that wolves killed 500 sheep in Montana however 11,800 were killed by coyotes (Barton). Plus disease, weather, eagles, bears, and foxes each proved to be greater threats to livestock (Barton). Wolves aren't as "big and bad" as the public receives them.