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MEXICAN WOLF REINTRODUCTION PROJECT NEWS -- Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project, 10/05/2009
The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project
activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF)
and Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) and in New Mexico on the
Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF). Non-tribal
lands involved in this Project are collectively known as the Blue Range
Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA). Additional Project information can be
obtained by calling (928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653, or by
visiting the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site at
http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf. Past
updates may be viewed on either Web site, or interested parties may sign
up to receive this update electronically by visiting
http://www.azgfd.gov/signup. This update is a public document and
information in it can be used for any purpose. The Reintroduction
Project is a multi-agency cooperative effort among the Arizona Game and
Fish Department (AGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF),
USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Wildlife Services (USDA-APHIS WS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT). Other
entities, including private individuals and nongovernmental
organizations, cooperate through the Project's Adaptive Management
Work Group (AMWG) that meets periodically in Arizona and New Mexico.
To view weekly wolf telemetry flight location information or the 3-month
wolf distribution map, please visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf. On the
home page, go to the "Wolf Location Information" heading on the
right side of the page near the top and scroll to the specific location
information you seek.
Please report any wolf sightings or suspected livestock depredations to:
(928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653. To report incidents of
take or harassment of wolves, please call the AGFD 24-hour dispatch
(Operation Game Thief) at (800) 352-0700.
Numbering System: Mexican wolves are given an identification number
recorded in an official studbook that tracks their history. Capital
letters (M = Male, F = Female) preceding the number indicate adult
animals 24 months or older. Lower case letters (m = male, f = female)
indicate wolves younger than 24 months or pups. The capital letter
"A" preceding the letter and number indicate alpha wolves.
Definitions: A "wolf pack" is defined as two or more wolves
that maintain an established territory. In the event that one of the
two alpha (dominant) wolves dies, the remaining alpha wolf, regardless
of pack size, retains the pack status. The packs referenced in this
update contain at least one wolf with a radio telemetry collar attached
to it. The Interagency Field Team (IFT) recognizes that wolves without
radio telemetry collars may also form packs. If the IFT confirms that
wolves are associating with each other and are resident within the same
home range, they will be referenced as a pack.
CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of September 2009, the collared population consisted of 29
wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among 10 packs and three
single wolves. Some other uncollared wolves are known to be associating
with radio-collared wolves, and others are separate from known packs.
Seasonal note: In September 2009, the IFT initiated fall trapping
efforts to document pack status and pup recruitment in the BRWRA. We
have trapped and collared four new wolf pups from the following
established packs: male pup 1183 is associated with the Bluestem Pack;
female pup 1184 is associated with the Hawks Nest Pack (unfortunately
this pup shed its radio collar shortly after it was trapped, the IFT
investigated the area and has no reason to believe this wolf pup is
deceased); male pup 1185 is associated with the Middle Fork Pack; and
female pup 1186 is associated with the Rim Pack. We also trapped AM806
and AF1042 of the Bluestem Pack and AF861 of the Middle Fork Pack and
attached new radio collars to these wolves. The IFT will be initiating
efforts to trap and collar other pups from the Hawks Nest, Rim,
Bluestem, Paradise and Dark Canyon Packs, as weather conditions permit
in October.
The IFT has also been attempting to trap and collar an uncollared wolf
reported in the area west of Greer, Arizona. To date, this effort has
not resulted in the capture or identification of an uncollared wolf in
this portion of the BRWRA.
IN ARIZONA:
Bluestem Pack (AM806, AF1042 and mp1183)
Throughout September, the IFT located AM806 and AF1042 in their
traditional territory in the central portion of the ASNF. The IFT
observed at least four pups with this pack in September.
Hawks Nest Pack (collared AM1044, AF1110 and M1155)
During September, the IFT located the Hawks Nest Pack in its traditional
territory in the central portion of the ASNF.
Rim Pack (collared AF858, AM1107 and fp1186)
Throughout September, the IFT located the Rim Pack within its
traditional home range in the central portion of the ASNF.
M619 (collared)
During September, the IFT located M619 in the central portion of the
ASNF and the northwest portion of the GNF in New Mexico.
ON THE FAIR:
Paradise Pack (collared AM795 and AF1056)
During September, the IFT located the Paradise Pack within its
traditional territory on the northern portion of the FAIR and the
northwestern portion of the ASNF.
Bacho Pack (collared AM990)
Throughout September, the IFT located AM990 within its traditional
territory on the FAIR and in nontraditional areas on the central portion
of the ASNF in Arizona.
IN NEW MEXICO:
Dark Canyon (collared AM992 and AF923)
Throughout September, the IFT located the Dark Canyon Pack within its
traditional territory in the west-central portion of the GNF. The IFT
documented at least two pups with this pack in September.
Luna Pack (collared M1156 and F1115)
Throughout September, the IFT located M1156 and F1115 in the traditional
Luna Pack territory in the central portion of the GNF.
Middle Fork Pack (collared AM871, AF861 and mp1185)
Throughout September, the IFT located the Middle Fork Pack within its
traditional territory in the central portion of the GNF. The IFT
documented at least four pups with this pack in June and obtained visual
observations of several pups in September.
San Mateo Pack (collared AF903 and AM1114)
Throughout September, the IFT located the San Mateo Pack within its
traditional territory in the north-central portion of the GNF. At
least one pup is known to be with this pack.
Fox Mountain Pack (collared AM1038, AF521, M1157, M1158 and M1161)
Throughout September, the IFT located the Fox Mountain Pack within its
traditional territory in the northwestern portion of the GNF and the
northeastern portion of the ASNF.
Laredo (collared F1028)
During September, the IFT documented F1028 in the west-central and
central portions of the GNF.
F1106 (collared)
During September, the IFT located F1106 in the northwestern and
north-central portions of the GNF.
MORTALITIES
The IFT did not document any wolf mortalities during September.
INCIDENTS
In total, the IFT investigated six potential depredation incidents in
September. The IFT confirmed four incidents as wolf depredations. Two
were not confirmed as wolf-related depredations. Summaries of the
investigations are as follows:
During September, the IFT assigned four depredation incidents to AF861
and AM871 of the Middle Fork Pack in New Mexico. All of the incidents
occurred in the vicinity of Houghton Canyon. On September 5, the IFT
confirmed two separate incidents involving a yearling heifer and a
yearling of unknown sex. On September 24, the IFT investigated a dead
yearling and confirmed it as wolf-related. Also on September 24, an
injured yearling heifer was discovered and was later euthanized by the
permittee due to its injuries. These four confirmed depredation
incidents in September bring AF861 and AM871 to ten confirmed
depredation incidents within a 365-day period. On August 28, FWS issued
a management decision regarding these wolves that called for intensive
hazing to be conducted on the Middle Fork Pack with the goal of
deterring future livestock depredations and to potentially move the
wolves out of the immediate vicinity. On September 4, FWS issued a
second Directors Decision Memo to leave both AF861 and AM871 in the wild
with their four pups, and to escalate the existing hazing efforts and
take other actions to reduce the risk of further depredation. On
September 10, FWS issued a Directors Decision Memo reaffirming the
September 4 decision, stating that AF861 and AM871 will remain in the
wild through the fall season until November 1, 2009, at a minimum
without the necessity of further decisions. FWS developed these
decisions with regard to overall low population numbers of Mexican
wolves in the BRWRA, presence of pups with the adult wolves, and the
genetic importance of the members of this pack.
On September 17, the IFT investigated a report of two dead calves near
Rudd Knoll in Arizona. The carcasses were not located in close proximity
to one another, and WS personnel only located one of the carcasses. The
investigation determined that the calf died of causes not related to
predation. The other reported carcass was not investigated.
CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
The following information was inadvertently left out of the August 2009
monthly update:
On August 17, Project personnel captured mp1176 and mp1177 at the
Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility for veterinary exams and final yearly
vaccinations. The pups appeared to be in very good health.
No significant activity occurred in September.
COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
The IFT has been conducting hunter contacts in New Mexico and Arizona
during the current archery elk hunt seasons.
PROJECT PERSONNEL
No significant activity occurred this month.
REWARDS OFFERED
The USFWS is offering a reward of up to $10,000, the AGFD Operation Game
Thief is offering a reward of up to $1,000, and the NMDGF is offering a
reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the
individual(s) responsible for the shooting deaths of Mexican wolves. A
variety of non-governmental organizations and private individuals have
pledged an additional $40,000 for a total reward amount of up to
$52,000, depending on the information provided.
Individuals with information they believe may be helpful are urged to
call one of the following agencies: USFWS special agents in Mesa,
Arizona, at (480) 967-7900, in Alpine, Arizona, at (928) 339-4232, or in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, at (505) 346-7828; the WMAT at (928) 338-1023
or (928) 338-4385; AGFD Operation Game Thief at (800) 352-0700; or NMDGF
Operation Game Thief at (800) 432-4263. Killing a Mexican wolf is a
violation of the Federal Endangered Species Act and can result in
criminal penalties of up to $50,000, and/or not more than one year in
jail, and/or a civil penalty of up to $25,000.
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