Vasquez Statement on the U.S. Forest Service’s Decision to Remove Unbranded Cattle in the Gila Wilderness

Today, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), in accordance with Gila National Forest Supervisor Camille Howes, made a difficult but necessary decision to permanently remove unbranded cattle in the Gila Wilderness.  

“The Forest Service works diligently alongside its stakeholders to conserve our shared natural resources in the Gila, which is a New Mexico treasure and the nation’s first wilderness area,” Vasquez said. “I understand how difficult this decision is for everyone involved. I’ve spent much of my career working to protect our public lands, understanding the balance of interests and multiple uses, including grazing. There is no easy way to remove these unowned, unbranded cattle from federally designated wilderness areas. That’s why I understand the tough decision that had to be made to remove the cattle from the landscape. I look forward to working with all impacted stakeholders to ensure we can cull this herd to avoid future removal operations and protect this important commodity for New Mexico ranchers.” 

There are nearly 150 unbranded cattle in the Gila Wilderness that have caused damage to Gila Forest public lands, including damaging important native habitat, riparian areas, streams and waterways. The Forest Service manages many different priorities, including protecting native species, critical habitat, managing grazing leases, facilitating outdoor recreation and more. We will continue to monitor this situation and receive periodic briefings from USFS and USDA APHIS to follow the progress of this removal operation.