Rep. Griffin Urges Removal of Mexican Gray Wolf from Endangered Species List

By Jonathan Eberle |

State Representative Gail Griffin (R-LD19) has called for the Mexican gray wolf’s removal from the federal Endangered Species List by 2026. She cites escalating concerns among rural communities in southeastern Arizona regarding livestock losses, public safety, and property rights.

Griffin, chair of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, argues the federal Mexican wolf reintroduction initiative has deviated from its conservation objectives. She claims it has morphed into a “multi-million-dollar anti-ranching industry,” jeopardizing the livelihoods of local ranchers and threatening rural traditions.

“The Mexican wolf is a vicious predator that jeopardizes our rural industries and way of life,” Griffin states. She emphasizes that families feel unsafe, pets are at risk, and communities are living in fear. Her comments come in light of a rise in wolf-related livestock losses; reports indicate 26 incidents occurred in 2025 alone in southeastern Arizona, including the deaths of cattle and horses. Griffin believes the population of Mexican gray wolves, reaching at least 286 in the wild this year, exceeds sustainable levels and has outstripped the original recovery target of 100 wolves established in the 1990s.

In contrast, federal wildlife officials assert that the species remains endangered, emphasizing the importance of reintroduction efforts for its long-term survival. The Mexican gray wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, was nearly extinguished in the wild, with recovery initiatives starting in the late 1990s through captive breeding and subsequent release into Arizona and New Mexico.

Griffin challenges the genetic integrity of the species, alleging that it has hybridized with domestic dogs and coyotes. She also contends that the wolf’s increasing familiarity with humans has escalated conflict levels. Griffin argues that most of the wolf’s historical habitat is located in Mexico, questioning why Arizona should shoulder the principal responsibility for its recovery.

“The Mexican wolf is no longer in need of the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act,” she asserts. “It is time to de-list the Mexican wolf, defund the reintroduction program, and transfer management to state and local control.” Griffin’s op-ed critiques the federal program’s costs, which she states have surpassed $220 million, estimating that ongoing expenses could range from $500,000 to $1 million per wolf through 2030. She advocates for compensation for ranchers, addressing both direct livestock losses and indirect economic impacts.

Arizona lawmakers have already passed resolutions urging Congress to delist the wolf, with Griffin pressing federal legislators for further measures. The issue is anticipated to remain contentious, as various stakeholders wrestle with how to harmonize species recovery efforts with rural economic interests.

As the debate intensifies, the future of the Mexican gray wolf in Arizona may depend on the balance of state and federal influence in shaping wildlife policy across the American Southwest.