ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – New Mexico Republican Congressman Steve Pearce has introduced a bill that takes aim at the federal Mexican Gray Wolf program.

Pearce and Paul Gosar of Arizona argue that the reintroduction program is not effective. The Congressmen want to eliminate the federal recovery program and transfer the protection of the wolf back to the states.

Environmentalists say the legislation would be a death sentence for the endangered predators which have been steadily growing in number since the program began.

The federal program has been under fire from ranchers since it began.