State wildlife agencies were left out of the wolf recovery planning process. In fact, the Arizona Game and Fish Department's own Cooperative Reintroduction Plan was used as the blue- print for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed action. State wildlife agency cooperators have been complimentary of the federal agencies' efforts to involve them. The wolf restoration plans for the Southwest do not take the needs of local citizens into consideration. The plan was specifically tailored to meet the stated needs of local citizens based on the public comment process.
Reintroduction of wolves makes coyote control more difficult.
In fact, wolves could actually help reduce animal damage control expenses for coyotes. Wolf biologist Dr. David Mech estimates that each wolf pack may displace up to an estimated 50 coyotes, thereby producing savings in ADC expenses on both the state and federal level. Furthermore, fewer coyotes will mean less coyote predation on domestic livestock. Reintroduced wolves will spread disease. Like humans, wolves can contract rabies, but feral and domestic dogs pose a far greater threat to people.