New Mexico ranchers, farmers sue over jaguar border habitat

[Judi Lynn]

New Mexico ranchers, farmers sue over jaguar border habitat
1 hour ago • By RUSSELL CONTRERAS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The setting aside of more than 170 square miles in New Mexico as critical habitat for the endangered jaguar was an "unlawful, arbitrary and capricious" action by federal authorities and needs to be overturned, a new lawsuit says.

In court papers filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association and New Mexico Federal Lands Council said the decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to set aside public and private land for the cat would place unnecessary regulations on landowners.

In addition, the designation of the critical habitat violates the Endangered Species Act because the area "was not occupied when the jaguar was listed as an endangered species, and is not essential for jaguar conservation," the lawsuit said.

"Clearly, the government doesn't have the luxury of careless overreach when it comes to roping off property as critical habitat," said attorney Tony Francois, who is with the Sacramento, California-based Pacific Legal Foundation and is representing the groups suing. "But that's exactly what we see with the jaguar habitat designation in New Mexico."

More:
http://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/new-mexico-ranchers-farmers-sue-over-jaguar-border-habitat/article_31c083d6-f8cf-55db-9bb9-9370ace4f85e.html

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attorney Tony Francois, "Pacific Legal Foundation"
spokesman for the ranchers, farmers suing the gov.[/center]

[GeorgeGist]

1. He's got the meats.