Federal agency settles wolf lawsuit

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and environmentalists have reached an agreement Friday that scraps a controversial rule the agency had used to kill or permanently remove any wolf that killed three heads of livestock in a year.

Fish and Wildlife spokesman Tom Buckley says the rule "will no longer stand."

He says the agency has ways to deal with livestock kills "and remains committed to assisting the local livestock operators in any negative impacts they may have related to wolves."

Environmentalists complained the three-strikes rule favored the ranching industry and was a major roadblock to the effort to recover the species in the wild. Ranchers responded the policy targets wolves that grow accustomed to preying on cattle.

Several environmental groups sued in May 2008, asking the U.S. District Court in Arizona to stop the removal policy.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

MORE FROM KOB-TV

KOB-TV Section Front

Taos judge dismisses contempt charges   Teenager sentenced to 60 years for murder   Family terrorized as So. NM home is invaded   Cleanup plan released for Grants-era mine site   Governor appoints new human services secretary   Farmington plan recommends $136M in new roads   Dona Ana authorities investigate home invasion   NMAA sells online tickets to 2 football semifinals   DA offers tips for safe holidays   Bingaman to visit Navajo Nation Tuesday KOB-TV Section Front   Add KOB-TV headlines to your news reader: