Aerial Gunning of Feral Cattle in New Mexico Set to Begin, USFS Violates Agreement

Feral cattle in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest are expected to come under crosshairs once again as the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plan to decrease the area’s population via aerial gunning beginning Thursday, Feb. 23.

One year ago, the abrupt notice of the aerial gunning caused the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association (NMCGA) and others to file suit against the USFS. Despite their legal efforts, the mission continued, ultimately leading to 65 head of cattle killed during the 2022 operation. 

Following the 2022 event, USFS agreed to “not rely on the same justification it had used for that action” and the organization agreed to provide 75 days in written notice of any future aerial slaughter operations, NMCGA stated in a recent press release.

“Unfortunately, after a year of abiding by our settlement agreement we are now back to square one,” says Loren Patterson, president of NMCGA in the release. “Throughout the past year, we offered real solutions to the Forest Service for the Gila estray problem. Those solutions would address the immediate issue, provide long-term resolution and would be humane.”

USFS and APHIS failed to provide notice of a plan to shoot cattle again, says the NMCGA, violating the agreement. Additionally, NMCGA notes USFS has no authority to shoot cattle, it’s violating its own regulations—which do not authorize shooting cattle—it’s violating the National Environmental Protection Act, and that the shooting operation constitutes animal cruelty under New Mexico law.

Taking legal action, NMCGA and others recently filed a Complaint and Application for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against USFS and APHIS in Federal District Court for New Mexico to stop the mission to shoot cattle in the Gila Wilderness from a flying helicopter, joined as plaintiff by Humane Farming Association.

NMCGA notes the USFS slaughter plan has drawn bi-partisan condemnation, while New Mexico citizens and former residents recognize the carcasses as a waste of food and a way of conditioning predators in the area to prey on livestock.

While the cattle are considered invasive, are threatening to the fish and wildlife habitats of many federally threatened and endangered species, as well as a public safety danger in the Gila National Forest area by USFS, the Western Landowners Alliance also voices its disproval of the aerial gunning routine.

“Everyone agrees the unauthorized cattle need to be removed from the vacant allotment. However, it is deeply disappointing that the agency chose to proceed with another round of aerial gunning, which last year left dead and dying livestock scattered in and along the river," says Lesli Allison, WLA’s executive director, in a Western Ag Network article.

USFS issued a closure order for the area, beginning Feb. 20, and the aerial gunning is expected to last four days, from Feb. 23 through Feb. 26.

Read More from the 2022 Operation:
Feds Plan Aerial Gunning of Estray Cattle in New Mexico
Feral Cattle Aerial Gunning Continues As Court Denies Restraining Order