Update courtesy Patrick C. Valentino of the Julian Wolf Preserve

April 23, 1999

Writing from the Interagency Wolf Conference in Chico Montana, here is this week's report from USFWS. Note 5 pups were born in the Gavilan Pack in the release pen on 4/14/99.

Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Update April 8 - 18, 1999

     This is a brief summary of current information about the Mexican wolf reintroduction for the interested public. Additional copies of this update and other information can be obtained by calling (505) 248-6664 or (520) 367-4281. Call the toll-free number at (888) 459-9653 to report suspected livestock depredation or incidents of take or harassment of wolves. The reintroduction is a multi-agency cooperative effort (US Fish & Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Game and Fish Department, USDA-Wildlife Services, US Forest Service).

      Campbell Blue Pack (CB) The pair has remained together since their release in December. They have localized their activities to approximately a five square mile area, and are possibly tending a den site west of the Engineer Springs pen.

      Hawks Nest Pack (HN) The pair remains in the Campbell Blue pen and appear to be doing fine. They will be held in the pen through May, allowing them the opportunity to have pups in the pen if they have mated. They will be released after elk calving begins in June.

      Pipestem Pack (PS) The three-member Pipestem Pack continue to use the area which includes their pen site and an area several miles to the north and west. They are being closely monitored by project staff because of recent interactions with ranch dogs causing injury to one dog, and because a domestic calf was killed in the area. Wildlife Services investigated the depredation and determined that it had been fed on by a number of predators, which likely included the wolves. However, the investigation yielded no evidence to confirm that the calf was killed by wolves, and it was not possible to conclude a cause of death for the calf. Defenders of Wildlife has agreed to reimburse the rancher for one-half market value of the calf, as is their policy when wolves are in the area of a livestock loss but the causeof death can not be determined.

      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics laboratory completed it's necropsy on the body of PS F563, found dead by a passing motorist along Highway 191 on March 21. The findings indicated that the wolf died from injuries sustained from a collision/impact with a solid structure such as a vehicle.

      Gavilan Pack (formerly known as Strayhorse Pack) The three members of the Gavilan pack remain in the experimental acclimation pen near Coalson Peak. On April 14, project biologists determined that the female had given birth to five pups in the acclimation pen. Many wolves are giving birth earlier than expected this year, possibly due to the warm, open winter. The pack will be retained in the pen for the immediate future to assure that the pair and pups get adequate nutrition before release.