U.S. Forest Service (USFS) officials announced on Feb. 16 that aerial shooting of estray cattle would commence on Feb. 23 in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico, citing the cattle pose a threat to public safety and natural resources.
“This has been a difficult decision, but the lethal removal of feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness is necessary to protect public safety, threatened and endangered species habitats, water quality and the natural character of the Gila Wilderness,” said Camille Howes, Gila National Forest supervisor, in a statement.
“The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round and trample stream banks and springs, causing erosion and sedimentation. This action will help restore the wilderness character of the Gila Wilderness enjoyed by visitors from across the country.”
USFS was set to conduct the operation after WLJ press time with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services, planning to remove the feral cattle within the Gila Wilderness over four consecutive days. USFS officials estimate there are 150 head of estray cattle and contend shooting is the “most efficient and humane way” to remove the cattle.
A previous operation in February 2022 resulted in 65 head shot over a two-day process.
The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association (NMCGA) announced on Feb. 21 it filed a complaint and a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against USFS and APHIS to stop the aerial shooting operation. NMCGA said the agencies violated their agreement to provide a 75-day notice of intent to shoot cattle as part of a settlement of a suit in 2022. They further contend shooting estray cattle violates New Mexico animal cruelty laws and that the agencies have no authority to shoot cattle.
“Unfortunately, after a year of abiding by our settlement agreement we are now back to square one,” said Loren Patterson, president of NMCGA, in a statement. “Throughout the past year, we offered real solutions to the Forest Service for the Gila estray problem. Those solutions would address the immediate issue, provide long-term resolution and would be humane.”
Background
The agreement came after months of back-and-forth negotiations between USFS, APHIS and NMCGA to devise an alternative method to remove the cattle.
According to NMCGA, USFS met with Patterson at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association annual convention in late early February to discuss a New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) directive passed in December 2022 that would delay or prevent a second round of aerial slaughter.
The plan was to construct the infrastructure needed to gather the estray cattle within the rugged topography and to have riders gather the cattle. It would also allow allotment holders the opportunity to purchase the cattle after NMLB inspections.
USFS sent a notice to Gila Wilderness allotment holders on Feb. 8 that any unauthorized livestock would be impounded after Feb. 15 and owners of unauthorized livestock would need to show proof of ownership and pay any expenses incurred as a result of the gathering. Any unclaimed cattle would be sold within five days after a notice of sale was published or posted.
Patterson called the impound notice a step toward using aerial gunning and said that aerial shooting would be a “Band-Aid” and a “long-term solution to population control of estray cattle in the Gila Wilderness will not be achieved.”
A meeting was held with USFS officials, NMCGA and other stakeholders on Feb. 16, where Patterson said it was offensive to learn of USFS’ decision to shoot cattle despite ongoing negotiations.
At the meeting, USFS said they would do their best to identify cattle by air and any cow-calf pairs would both be shot. USFS also said APHIS officials would give GPS coordinates for the location of each animal. According to the press release by USFS, “All dispatched cattle will be left onsite to naturally decompose,” and the agency will ensure that no cattle are left in waterways, hiking trails or culturally sensitive areas.
“Today’s meeting proved the Service is willing to bypass all stakeholder input and effectively turn their backs on sound reasoning,” Patterson said. “Out of the six groups represented (in the meeting) today, the Forest Service is the only one in favor of aerial operations.”
NMCGA and cattlemen expressed concern on several issues, including how cattle will be identified, how they will prevent maiming cattle and suffering, and what actions are compelling USFS to continue slaughtering cattle.
Enviros praise decision
USFS’ announcement drew the praise of the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and other environmental organizations.
Todd Schulke, co-founder of CBD, applauded USFS for deciding to remove the cattle from the Gila Wilderness. Removing the estray cattle will produce “immediate results” of clean water and will restore habitat, he said.
In January 2020, CBD sued USFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing estray cattle to roam in riparian habitats in Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and the Gila National Forest.
Other conservation groups concurred with CBD and said the removal would contribute to habitat restoration and that the problem of estray cattle has gone on too long.
“The unacceptable ecological destruction caused by feral cattle on this landscape is well-documented and has persisted for decades,” said Mark Allison, executive director of New Mexico Wild, in a statement. “All parties agree that the feral cattle do not belong here. These measures are absolutely needed to protect these critical riparian areas and the species dependent upon those areas and now is the time to finish the job.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
