Nuacht Aoir

A Letter To Our Canis Lupus Baileyi
Friends And Neighbors Of Southwest New Mexico
Head North!

A Mexican Wolf fitted with a yellow collar was released into the wilds of New Mexico in January of 2023. (The photo was provided courtesy of the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, January 27, 2023.)

We realize that the readership of Nuacht Aoir is typically of the human race, but we at Nuacht Aoir believe in full equality and equity for all residents of Southwest New Mexico.

Thus, today we address our Canis Lupus Baileyi neighbors – our Mexican wolf friends.

We at Nuacht Aoir recognize that the Mexican wolves are often misunderstood.

People typically only hear negative things about our friends and neighbors.

Killing cattle. Chasing dogs. Scaring fine, upstanding Americans as they hang their laundry to dry in the fresh air of Catron County.

Rarely do they read about the more-enlightened Mexican wolves.

For example, Nuacht Aoir has it on good authority that Francine and Anna chose not to feast on an elderly woman who had strayed from a trail near Reserve. We are also aware that the Easter Bunny had a most enjoyable visit with Tom and Tomasina – along with their lovely offspring – while visiting Grant County earlier this year. The Easter Bunny recently confirmed that all shared a good laugh as a young boy skipped stones across a branch of the Gila River.

And living in Southwest New Mexico can be confusing for the Mexican wolves too.

Imagine, if you could, the difficulty you would face if you could only eat certain types of meat: Moose, yes. Elk, yes. White-tail Deer, yes. Mule Deer, yes. Rabbits, yes. Dairy cows, no. Dogs, no. Kitty Cats, no. Easter Bunny, no.

(Nuacht Aoir might suggest that certain types of dogs may be acceptable as food for wolves, but we strive not to offend any of our dear readers so we defer any such suggestions.)

The recent decision in Santa Fe to declare Bernalillo County an almost gun-free zone opens up many opportunities to our Mexican wolf friends.

Please spread the word:

"Head North!"

For the adventuresome, consider providing free transport for our Mexican wolf friends and neighbors to travel to Bernalillo County.

Please note the handy map at the bottom of this news column. The U S Fish and Wildlife Service was kind enough to outline the specific Wolf Management Zones where Mexican wolves are protected by the Federal government.

Areas south of Interstate 40 in Bernalillo County are explicitly included in Wolf Management Zone 2. This includes large sections of the City of Albuquerque.

The areas that have stripes on the map, including what appear to be select areas of Bernalillo County, are in what the Federal government has called "Suitable Wolf Habitat in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area."

In addition, Mexican wolves that choose to visit the areas north of Interstate 40 – while not explicitly in Wolf Management Zone 2 – are under the full protection of the State and Federal governments.

Sometime during the first ten days of January of 2023, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish issued a news release that stated that a female Mexican wolf "…was documented crossing the I-40 [Interstate 40] boundary early this week."

"Mexican wolves that move outside the MWEPA [Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area], including north of I-40, are listed and protected as Federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act," the news release continued. "Therefore, livestock owners and the public cannot haze or harass wolves north of I-40 without violating the Act, unless the wolf actively poses a threat to human safety. The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team has notified private landowners in the area."

The news release concluded by stating that "Anyone convicted of killing, harming, or harassing an endangered Mexican wolf is subject to a fine and/or criminal charges."

As you inform our Mexican wolf friends and neighbors of the opportunities up north, please let them know the areas for Mexican wolves to avoid in Bernalillo County.

According to the news release from Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, and we quote directly,

"The action plan includes a suspension of open and concealed carry laws in Bernalillo County, temporarily prohibiting the carrying of guns on public property with certain exceptions. Exceptions include for licensed security guards and law enforcement officers. Citizens with permits to carry firearms are free to possess their weapons on private property (such as at a gun range or gun store), provided they transport the firearm in a locked box, use a trigger lock, or some other mechanism that renders the gun incapable of being fired."

Thus, Mexican wolves should avoid areas explicitly listed (gun ranges and gun stores), areas where law enforcement officials may be present (police stations, for example), and areas where security officers may be standing guard (late-night drinking establishments, for example).

One other point made by Governor Lujan Grisham may be of keen interest to our Mexican wolf friends:

"The public health order also directs, [among other items]…A prohibition on firearms on state property, including state buildings and schools. This also includes other places of education where children gather, such as parks."

We at Nuacht Aoir do not know what to recommend to those of the human race who might come into contact with – let us say – a Mexican wolf who does not share the values of Francine and Anna as well as Tom and Tomasina – along with, of course, their lovely offspring. Or maybe a Mexican wolf that is just having a bad day.

When Nuacht Aoir asked The White House for comment on the decision to declare Bernalillo County an almost gun-free, we were given the following statement:

"Under [Governor Michelle] Lujan Grisham's leadership, New Mexico has implemented a series of evidence-based policies aimed at transforming New Mexico's public education system, expanding the state's economy to include more high-quality employment opportunities, and preserving New Mexico's air, land, and water. Lujan Grisham is building a comprehensive cradle-to-career education system, expanding cost-free child care to more New Mexico families than ever before and establishing the most expansive free college program in the country. She has prioritized economic diversification, leading the state's booming film and television industry to record-breaking growth and bringing the state's unemployment rate to a fifteen-year low."

When Nuacht Aoir informed The White House that this wording is exactly what President Joseph (Joe) Biden stated in a news release on February 9, 2023, on an unrelated subject, we were given an additional statement from The White House:

"The Biden-Harris Administration stands by its previous statement in support of Governor Lujan Grisham's leadership in New Mexico."

We at Nuacht Aoir would be remiss if we did not note that only law-abiding citizens generally obey laws and regulations promulgated by governmental officials.

Our Mexican wolf friends and neighbors would do wise to keep that in mind as they head north to Bernalillo County.

It would be terrible to think that our Mexican wolf friends would come face-to-snout with citizens and non-citizens who would choose to disregard the law.

Bernalillo County (approximately outlined in the red circle) is now almost free of threats to our Canis Lupus Baileyi Friends. (The map was provided courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023.)

For further information, please click here.

Contact Richard McDonough at nuachtaoir@protonmail.com.

If your email does not go through, please contact editor@grantcountybeat.com.

© 2023 Richard McDonough