12/14/2001 1066

CENTER OFFERS $5,000 REWARD FOR APPREHENSION OF WOLF KILLERS

The Center for Biological Diversity announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for the recent spate of Mexican gray wolf killings. This money will be paid on top of the $10,000 reward offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The captive-born Mexican wolves have made nearly flawless adaptations to life in the wild. The only barrier to success is continued human interference with their natural propensity to roam and explore. Despite multiple concessions on the part of wolf-advocacy groups to meet the objections of those opposed to recovery of the Mexican gray wolf, wolves are disappearing suspiciously and being shot or killed in hit-and-run incidents. Four wolves have been confirmed killed in approximately a month, paralleling the Fall 1998 shootings in quick succession of at least five of the initial eleven wolves released.

Rewards by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Center, and other non-profit groups led to the conviction in October 2000 of James Michael Rogers (of Eager, AZ) in one of the 1998 shootings. Rogers served four months in prison and six months under house arrest. He will be on supervised probation for the next two and half years, and must also complete 50 hours of community service.

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