ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge has ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to remove feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness, rejecting a lawsuit from the livestock industry that sought to block the removals.
The Center for Biological Diversity, which supported the Forest Service in court, praised the decision. “This sensible ruling validates the Forest Service’s efforts to protect the Gila Wilderness and its remarkable biological diversity,” said Taylor McKinnon, the center’s Southwest director.
For decades, unbranded feral cattle have damaged the wilderness by overgrazing, polluting water sources, and trampling sensitive habitats. The Gila, home to endangered species like Mexican spotted owls and Chiricahua leopard frogs, has seen widespread public support for the removal, with more than 5,000 comments favoring the plan, including lethal control measures.
Surveys indicate few, if any, feral cattle remain in the wilderness. Officials say these animals, which reproduce independently from ranching operations, have no legal owners, and no active grazing allotments exist nearby.