Introduced Mexican Wolves
Already Spotted Near Stock

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Little more than a month after their release, Mexican wolves reintroduced into the Southwest by the federal government have already been seen repeatedly stalking livestock.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials insist no livestock have been harmed.

Fish and Wildlife biologists say they spotted wolf number 511 near a cow and newborn calf on May 10 while tracking the wolf from the air. They say they frightened the wolf away using the airplane.

The wolf, a year-old female from the Campbell Blue pack, was reported outside the designated wolf recovery area on May 9 and 10, and again on May 13. It was last reported about five miles north of Showlow, Ariz. Biologists say they made unsuccessful attempts to capture the wolf on May 9 and 10.

Wolf 511 and a two year-old from the Hawk's Nest pack, wolf number 494, appear to be leaving their packs, says Ken Burton with the Fish and Wildlife Service here.

The latter wolf was seen near Alpine, Ariz. on several occasions and was seen near cattle on the morning of May 11 and the evening of May 12.

"While dispersal from packs is normal behavior for young wolves, the fact is these wolves will not find mates this year and are not in areas that are appropriate for wolves," says Diane Boyd-Heger, a wolf biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Officials will capture wolves number 511 and 494 and put them in the Campbell Blue acclimation pen or at the Sevilleta captive management facility in New Mexico, says David Parsons, Mexican wolf recovery leader. They may be re-released near the Campbell Blue pack or in a more remote area of the Apache National Forest. The two wolves could also be held for release in the future.

Authorities also say a rancher saw three or four wolves circling his cattle on May 5, in a pasture about five miles from where one group of wolves was released at Hawk's Nest. The rancher said he yelled and fired two shot into the air, and the wolves moved away. Officials say the wolves have not returned to the area since.

In other actions, the Forest Service closed part of the Apache National Forest 10 miles southwest of Alpine because they think two of the female wolves may have given birth.

Burton says limited movements by two groups indicate that the adult females may have given birth near their packs' release sites.

The Forest Service closed an area with a one-mile radius around the Hawk's Nest pack on May 13. The agency is expected to close a similarly sized area around the Campbell Blue pack about seven miles southwest of Alpine.

"Now is the time of year when wolves have pups," says Parsons. "We're pleased that the two remaining packs have chosen areas with good prey bases."

He says both areas have concentrations of elk which will be calving soon and are away from cattle and areas where humans live.

Another litter is being cared for by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist who is feeding the mate and litter of a Mexican gray wolf shot by a camper on April 28.

The camper says he shot the male wolf after it attacked his dog. Federal authorities are investigating the shooting.

The wolf's mate, a five year-old female, was captured and taken to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, N.M., earlier this month.

Authorities say the female was captured because they were worried it would give birth in the wild and would be unable to feed its young without help. The pups were apparently born on May 4.

A Fish and Wildlife Service biologist is delivering carcasses to the den. Fish and wildlife officials say the carcasses come from deer and elk killed by motorists.

Burton says the interagency management team, which includes the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USDA Wildlife Service, will continue to monitor all the wolves daily with overflights or ground tracking. The biologists use noise-making devices to frighten wolves away from populated areas and areas where livestock are grazing.

"Ranchers and other local residents have been very helpful in reporting and helping resolve wolf incidents," says Wendy Brown, a wolf biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service. "Information they provide is very helpful in resolving potential conflicts between wolves and humans."