CLIFTON — It isn’t the wolf at the door that has residents of Arizona and New Mexico worried, rather it’s the federal government.

The program to reintroduce the Mexican gray wolf into portions of the desert Southwest of the United States was the focus of a legislative hearing hosted by state Representatives David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, and David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, and state Sen. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, at the Greenlee County Board of Supervisors meeting room Saturday.

“The (Founding Fathers) believed in local government. This is local government and we’re going to do our darnedest to protect your livelihoods,” Gowan said. “It’s appalling to see this, and it’s our own government that did this.”

Almost 50 residents and elected officials of Greenlee, Graham and Apache counties in Arizona and Catron County, N.M., were on hand to offer input on the issue. Also taking part was Larry Voyles, director of Arizona Game and Fish Department.

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