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MEXICAN WOLF UPDATE |
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April, May and June 2023 ~ Arizona Game and Fish Department Mexican Wolf Recovery Program Update |
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The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Recovery Program activities in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) in Arizona, including the Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR), San Carlos Apache Reservation (SCAR), and New Mexico. Additional Program 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 website at www.azgfd.gov/wolf, or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf. For information on the FAIR, call (928) 338-4385 ext. 226 or visit wmatoutdoor.org. Past updates may be viewed at these websites. Interested parties may sign up to receive this update electronically by visiting azgfd.gov and clicking on the E-news Signup tab on the top left corner of the webpage. This update is a public document and information in it can be used for any purpose. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program is a multi-agency cooperative effort among the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). To view semi-monthly wolf location information, please visit https://arcg.is/bLyPO. Please report any wolf sightings or suspected livestock depredations to: the Alpine wolf office (928) 339-4329, Pinetop wolf office (928) 532-2391 or toll free at (888) 459-9653. For sightings or suspected depredations on the FAIR, please call the WMAT wolf office in Whiteriver at (928) 338-4385 ext. 226. To report incidents of take or harassment of wolves, please call the AZGFD 24-hour dispatch (Operation Game Thief) at (800) 352-0700. Overall Mexican Wolf Recovery Program Quarterly Updates The Arizona and New Mexico Game and Fish Departments, as well as both Regions 2 and 6 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have met several times with Colorado Parks and Wildlife in a collaborative effort to manage the potential impact of northern gray wolves from Colorado's restoration program entering in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) and introducing northern wolf genetics into the unique Mexican wolf genome. This continues to be a very collaborative effort. 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) are used to indicate wolves younger than 24 months. A lowercase letter "p" preceding the number is used to indicate a wolf pup born in the most recent spring. The capital letter "A" preceding the letter and number indicates breeding 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 breeding (dominant) wolves dies, the remaining breeding wolf, regardless of pack size, retains the pack status. The packs referenced in this update contain at least one wolf wearing a radio telemetry collar. 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 The end of year count for 2022 generated a minimum abundance of 241 Mexican wolves in the wild (105 in AZ and 136 in NM). At the end of 2022, there were a minimum of 59 packs documented (19 in AZ and 40 in NM). This was a 23% increase in the population from the 2021 end of year count. Annual counts are conducted in the winter as this is when the population experiences the least amount of natural fluctuation (i.e., the population increases dramatically in the spring with the birth of new pups and declines throughout the summer and fall as pup mortality generally occurs in this period). Thus, the IFT summarizes the total number of counted wolves in winter. Counting the population at the end of each year allows for comparable year-to-year trends at a time of year when the Mexican wolf population is most stable. WOLF PACK UPDATES: For each documented wolf pack in the tables below, wolves fitted with functioning collars at the end of the quarter are listed by studbook number. Studbook numbers of wolves without collars or with non-functioning collars are not listed in the pack updates. Not all wolves in the population are collared or have assigned studbook numbers. Captures, mortalities, removals, and food caching are listed in the corresponding column for the given time period. If a pack was food cached at any time within the quarter, the food cache column will indicate the type of food cache. The primary reason for food caching will be noted with "S" for supplemental and "D" for diversionary; the reason for a food cache may change over time. If a wolf dies, becomes fate unknown, or is removed in the current time period, its studbook number will be removed from the pack column in the following time period. After three months of consistent dispersal behavior away from pack territory, a dispersing wolf is no longer considered a member of its originating pack and will be added to a new row as a single wolf or member of a different pack. Packs that have raised pups in the quarter will be listed as "Yes" in the "Raising pups" column. This will remain for the calendar year if the pack was documented rearing pups in the period of April through September. Any fields that require further comment will be annotated with "*" and further comments are listed in the "Comments" column. ARIZONA: If you have problems reading the charts below, click on the chart to open the image on your computer screen. On a phone, use your phone's zoom function (often a pinching motion) to enlarge the images.
FAIR:
NEW MEXICO:   
MORTALITIES Six Mexican wolf mortalities were documented in the second current quarter (4 in AZ and 2 in NM), which brings the total number of documented mortalities in 2023 to 12 (7 in AZ and 5 in NM). The annual mortality total for 2022 (12) was substantially lower than 2021 (25 mortalities) and 2020 (29 mortalities) and was the lowest annual total of documented Mexican wolf mortalities since 2017 (12 mortalities) when the Mexican wolf population was significantly smaller (minimum of 114 wolves). GENETIC MANAGEMENT
INCIDENTS The following are investigations of livestock depredations conducted by Wildlife Services during the quarter that were determined to be caused by wolves. Investigations of dead and injured livestock conducted by Wildlife Services during this time period that were determined to be from causes other than wolves (i.e., vehicle strike, illness, coyote predation, bear predation, or unknown cause) are not listed in this quarterly update. DEPREDATIONS 
PUBLIC INCIDENTS On April 13, 2023, the IFT received a phone call from a resident in Nutrioso, reporting that three adult wolves were seen in a pasture adjacent to their house feeding on an elk. When the reporting party (RP) approached the area, the wolves fled the area. The IFT responded to the area and removed the elk carcass to eliminate the carcass from attracting other predators to the area. The IFT determined through collar signals and data that wolves observed were from the Sierra Blanca Pack. Hazing efforts were initiated in the area following the incident to deter the wolves from hunting elk in the community. On May 3, 2023, the IFT took a report of two wolves traveling past a house in Nutrioso. The IFT responded to the area and documented radio collar signals from the Hoodoo pack. The IFT attempted to haze, but the wolves had moved out of the area. The IFT later confirmed GPS collar data showed the Hoodoo pack had been in proximity to the area. On May 20, 2023, the IFT received a delayed report from a resident in Alpine, stating that on May 15, 2023, they heard their dogs barking outside and went to investigate. Outside of their property line, they observed two wolves and a large herd of elk. The animals reportedly remained in the area for a short period then ran off when the RP yelled at them. The IFT later confirmed GPS collar data indicated Hoodoo animals had been present in the area at the time of the incident. On June 13, 2023, the IFT received a report from the Reserve District Ranger that two uncollared wolves were observed in the district parking lot. They reported that the animals took off when personnel in the office came out to look. One of the employees got a grainy video. Pack affiliation is unknown, and the IFT took no action. PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM PERSONNEL In June, Lauren Toivonen started as the new Mexican Wolf Field Projects Coordinator for USFWS. Lauren has her M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Missouri and a B.S. in Wildlife Biology form Missouri State University. Lauren has worked with species throughout the Midwest and southeastern regions of the U.S., including Mexican and red wolves. Lauren began working with the USFWS as a biologist in Ecological Services at the North Dakota Field Office in 2019 where she was the office lead on black-footed ferret reintroductions. Welcome Lauren to the IFT! John Oakleaf has transitioned from the Field Projects Coordinator to a Senior Mexican Wolf Scientist position with the USFWS to focus on administrative duties and research needs. Thank you John for your years of service as Field Projects Coordinator and tireless dedication to Mexican wolf recovery! REWARDS OFFERED The USFWS is offering a reward of up to $10,000, the AZGFD 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 additional funding for a total reward amount of up to $37,000, depending on the information provided. The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives Federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age and sex pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format or to file a discrimination complaint please contact the Director's Office at (602) 942-3000 or by mail at 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Discrimination complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce, Attention: Public Civil Rights and Disability Coordinator, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. |
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Arizona Game & Fish Dept. · 5000 W. Carefree Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85086 |
