Rural Catron County, New Mexico, is considering declaring a state of emergency following a surge in attacks by rare Mexican wolves on livestock and pets.
According to county officials, these wolves, which were reintroduced into the wild as part of endangered species conservation programs, have become a direct threat to citizens, having begun attacking livestock on pastures and even snatching pets from outside homes.
In an official statement, authorities urged residents to exercise caution, especially when venturing into open areas, and emphasized the need to closely monitor children and the elderly.
The problem extends beyond New Mexico, with counties in Oregon and California reporting similar incidents, some of which have declared local emergencies.
Mexican wolves (the smallest subspecies of gray wolves) were on the brink of extinction before the launch of a reintroduction program in 1998, but farmers now consider them a threat to their livelihoods, especially as drought challenges and rising costs worsen.