Local, state and federal officials have set their sights on the future of a pair wildlife populations in northwest Arizona where plans are to protect one and eliminate the other.
Representatives from Mohave County attended a kickoff meeting in Kingman with state and federal officials to look at developing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise.
A HCP is a planning document that maps out how to curtail and mitigate the impact caused by economic development.
Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson said he was encouraged by the level of cooperation between the agencies, and the Board of Supervisors will have to sign off on an HCP.
About 50 miles southwest, federal officials have floated a proposal to get rid of feral swine in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. The non-native wild pigs pose a danger to humans and threatened or endangered species, according to the proposal.
It includes shooting and humane trapping options. The public has until Nov. 9 to submit comments.
