ECO contributes $25,000 to Range Rider Program to reduce Mexican wolf depredations on livestock
The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made an important contribution of $25,000 to support the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) Range Rider Program that is directed by the department’s Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team.
Created in 1993, ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.
“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD Mexican wolf coordinator. "One of the key activities AZGFD engages in is reducing livestock production/wolf recovery conflicts on the shared landscapes. Based on the number of documented depredations since 2019, when range riding was initiated, we have seen a decline in depredations which I believe can rightfully be attributed to the Range Rider Program."
A range rider is a person who spends time in areas where wolves and cattle are in proximity and chases wolves from the area. It is a way of proactively deterring conflict between wolves and livestock. The range rider will work in much of eastern Arizona and will be directed to areas where high levels of depredations are occurring. These funds make a direct tie to the ranching community as the money is used on the ground in program areas to reduce the economic impact of Mexican wolf depredations.
"ECO is pleased to provide this funding to AZGFD,” said Supervisor Jason Whiting, ECO chair. “Depredations peaked in 2019 before the Range Rider Program was initiated by the department and other cooperators. It is important to note that funding for the Range Rider Program comes from modest county budgets, but ECO believes that putting what we can into on-the-ground wolf conflict avoidance is vital to recovery and to supporting our counties’ ranchers as we try and find a balance that leads to recovery and delisting on a working landscape.”
ECO has been actively involved in wolf depredation prevention management. “Even with an increasing Mexican wolf population, documented depredations have declined and it is important for ECO to provide this funding to help the ranching community in the counties this organization represents," said Dr. Pascal Berlioux, ECO executive director. "This funding will be well spent to reduce conflicts and promote balance between livestock production and progression toward wolf downlisting."
“I believe it is important to note that this is the sixth consecutive year that ECO has provided this level of funding to help reduce conflicts associated with wolf recovery,” said Supervisor Woody Cline, vice chair of ECO. “In total, the ECO counties have contributed a combined $160,000, which is a strong commitment to a balanced program where livestock operations can occur concurrent with wolf recovery.”
Clay Crowder, AZGFD’s assistant director for wildlife management, added, “As the wolf population continues to grow, reducing conflict over depredations is essential and something that the IFT works on daily. This financial assistance from ECO will be put directly on the ground where range riding is most needed."
More about ECO
ECO county supervisors provide leadership to the Natural Resources Working Group in the White Mountains, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), the Mexican Wolf Recovery & Management Team, the Mexican Spotted Owl Leadership Forum, among others, and work closely with local stakeholders and state and federal partners in all natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona. The board members consist of Jason Whiting (Chair) - Navajo County; Paul David – Graham County; Nelson Davis – Apache County; Woody Cline (Vice Chair) – Gila County; David Gomez – Greenlee County; and Kathleen Gomez - Cochise County.
