Eco-left group launches latest attack on New Mexico ranchers
In an escalation of its campaign against cattle grazing in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains, the eco-left fringe group, the Center for Biological Diversity, has filed yet another frivolous lawsuit targeting the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lawsuit alleges that these federal agencies have failed to protect riparian areas and meadows from cattle, purportedly to benefit the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse—a species so elusive that there is no concrete evidence of its presence.
The Center’s lawsuit, which is the third in five years, is based on claims that federal agencies have repeatedly violated legal agreements to protect this endangered species and its habitat. However, the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse remains largely undocumented, with no recent verifiable sightings or evidence of its existence in these areas. The Center’s persistent legal battles raise questions about the real motivations behind their claims, which appear to be more about pushing an ideological agenda than addressing genuine conservation needs.
Robin Silver, co-founder of the Center, has framed the lawsuit as a fight against government neglect. “It’s outrageous that we’re forced back into court to make federal agencies fulfill their duty to protect endangered species,” Silver declared. But the focus on an ostensibly unseen mouse has severe consequences for the local ranching community, which relies on grazing in the Sacramento Mountains.
Ranchers in the region are already facing significant challenges, and this lawsuit threatens to exacerbate their struggles. The Center’s actions could lead to stricter grazing restrictions or outright bans, which would not only impact their livelihoods but could also disrupt the local economy. The Sacramento Mountains are not just a critical habitat for this unverified mouse; they are also essential for the communities that depend on them for agricultural activities.
The lawsuit accuses the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to protect the mouse’s habitat by allowing cattle grazing, which the Center claims destroys vital meadows and streambanks. Yet, the evidence for such destruction is questionable and often relies on outdated or misrepresented data.
While the Center insists that protecting these areas from grazing is crucial for the recovery of the jumping mouse, it overlooks the broader implications for the local ecosystem and economy. Cattle grazing, a longstanding practice in the region, has been targeted by the Center’s lawsuits despite its role in supporting the livelihoods of many local families.
In addition to its lack of tangible evidence for the presence of the jumping mouse, the Center’s litigation strategy raises concerns about its priorities. By focusing on legal battles over a species that has not been observed in recent years, the Center risks inflicting unnecessary harm on local ranchers and potentially undermining the balance of land management in the Sacramento Mountains.
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