The U.S. Forest Service has announced plans to shoot wild cattle from helicopters in New Mexico beginning next week in order to protect the Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area. Animal rights activists have criticized the decision, arguing for relocation instead of killing the cattle, but Forest Service officials maintain that shooting them from helicopters is the most effective way to address the problem. The operation is expected to begin next week and will continue until the cattle population is reduced to a safe level.