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MEXICAN WOLF 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 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.com 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 (USDA-APHIS 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 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 census for 2020 generated a minimum abundance of 186 Mexican wolves in the wild (72 in AZ and 114 in NM). This was a 14% increase in the population from the 2019 end of year census. At the end of 2019, a minimum of 163 wolves were documented, which was a 24% increase from 2018. This population has nearly doubled in size over the last five years. Annual surveys are conducted in the winter as this is when the population experiences the least amount of natural fluctuation (i.e. in the spring the population increases dramatically 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 wolves in the 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. For each documented wolf pack in the table 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:
GENETIC MANAGEMENT
aThese are only MINIMUM values that have been documented by the IFT. The IFT does not affix radio collars on pups at the time of the cross-foster, as the pups are still too small. Pups are collared opportunistically when cross-fostered wolves are captured later in the year or in subsequent years. Not all cross-fosters that survive are captured and collared. bIn 2014, F1126 was released from captivity pregnant with a mate and they split up immediately. F1126 and its pups were brought back into captivity, except for two pups (AF1346 and AM1347) which were fostered into the Dark Canyon Pack and are now successful breeders in their own packs. These two wolves represent a successful cross-fostering event and are contributing valuable genetics to the wild population, but are not included in these totals since this event occurred prior to December 2015 and they do not count toward recovery criteria. 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 July 16, 2021, the IFT received a report of an uncollared wolf that had been observed following a moving vehicle on the Water Canyon road on National Forest south of Eagar. On July 18, 2021, the IFT received a second report of an uncollared wolf that had been observed following a vehicle in the same area as the report on the 16th on the Water Canyon road. The reporting party stated the wolf was observed running behind the vehicle, then stopped approximately 10 to 15 feet from the road and did not respond to yelling and honking of a car horn. The reporting party stated they did not exit their vehicle and drove away. An AGFD officer responded to the area and was unable to locate the animal or any wolf tracks in the area. On July 20, 2021, the IFT received an ongoing report of an uncollared wolf on private property in Milligan Valley in proximity to domestic animals and a residence. This location was within several miles of the two previous incidents reported on the Water Canyon Road. The IFT responded and located an uncollared sub-adult wolf along the forest road that accesses the property where it had been observed near the domestic animals. The wolf was hazed by the IFT member using less than lethal ammunition (rubber bullets) and cracker shells. The IFT did not receive any additional reports of this animal until September when the IFT received a delayed report of three sightings of an uncollared wolf observed following vehicles at close distance on the Water Canyon road in August. In response the IFT initiated efforts to capture the wolf; however, the wolf was not captured and was never observed by the IFT during the capture efforts. At the time this quarterly update was prepared, there have been no further sightings or incidents reported to the IFT. On September 6, 2021, the IFT received a report of sheep killed in a corral on private land in Alpine. Wildlife Services investigated 5 dead sheep and 4 injured sheep and determined the incident was a confirmed wolf depredation. The IFT assigned the depredation incident to uncollared wolves, deployed fladry and conducted nightly monitoring following the incident. No wolves were observed or documented in the area during the IFT's management actions. On September 21, 2021 the same livestock owner reported additional sheep had been killed within a separate corral that was approximately 20 yards from his residence in Alpine. Wildlife Services investigated 4 dead sheep and 3 injured sheep and determined the incident was a confirmed wolf depredation. The IFT immediately reinitiated intensive monitoring efforts and initiated trapping at the depredation site to stop the depredations and nuisance wolf behavior of predating on domestic animals in a residential area. At the time this update was prepared, no wolves have been captured nor documented at the depredation site. Monitoring efforts continue in the area. Both incidents in Alpine were assigned to uncollared wolves. PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM PERSONNEL During the third quarter, Annie Barkan and Ashley Everroad joined the IFT, Annie as a Mexican wolf technician with the AZGFD and Ashley as a range rider working for the AZGFD to reduce wolf/livestock conflict in Arizona. Welcome Ashley and Annie! 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. 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; AZGFD Operation Game Thief at (800) 352-0700; or NMDGF Operation Game Thief at (800) 432-4263. Killing a Mexican wolf is a violation of state law and 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. Arizona Game & Fish Dept. • 5000 W. Carefree Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85086 • (602) 942-3000 · www.azgfd.gov |
