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Update courtesy Patrick C. Valentino of the Julian Wolf Preserve
Patrick C. Valentino, Esq
Phone: (619) 236-9060
Fax: (619) 236-9093
email: corporatecounsel@connectnet.com
Some interesting updates including confirmed siting of wild born pups, relocation efforts and supplemental feeding:
Latest Note from the Field
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 Department of Game and Fish, USDA-Wildlife Services, US Forest Service).
The Campbell Blue pair has been located east of Strayhorse Divide during the last three telemetry flights. Their movements appear to be normal. Project personnel will go into this area to look for kills after the wolves have moved.
The pair and their three pups remain near the acclimation pen site. Project staff observed the adults and three pups near the pen on the July 8 telemetry flight. Staff has radio-tracked the pair on a 24-hour basis to better ascertain their movements and has confirmed no significant movements from the pen site. This pack is receiving supplemental feedings on a regular basis.
The Pipestem pack has been monitored on a 24-hour basis over the last two weeks to determine movements and location in relation to livestock and private land. On June 30-31, project personnel observed an interaction with livestock. The three adult wolves were observed attacking a calf and were successfully hazed off by project staff before any damage to the calf resulted. The calf was seen the following day and appeared to be doing fine. Project technicians observed one pup at the feeding station on July 10. They estimated it to be 16 inches at the shoulder and about 20 to 25 pounds. This is the first visual confirmation of pups born in the wild this year - the total number in this litter has not yet been determined. On July 11, project staff found a dead domestic calf and Wildlife Services (WS) confirmed it to be wolf depredation. This is the second confirmed depredation by this pack and several observations of the Pipestem Pack harassing livestock and circumstantial evidence surrounding other dead livestock in the area indicates this pack is habitually pursuing livestock. There are many cows with calves within the home range of these wolves, and the predominant native prey is mule deer. Mule deer have not yet had their fawns, and it appears that the wolves are focusing on domestic calves as the most vulnerable prey. The interagency field team has recommended the capture and relocation of this pack to a livestock-free area, where they can focus on native prey before their pups are taught depredation behavior. Trapping efforts were initiated and the adult male and yearling female were captured July 13 in the Turkey Creek management pen. The two Pipestem members were transported to Sevilleta NWR captive management facility. Once the adult female and wild-born pups are captured, they too will be returned to Sevilleta and held until a suitable site for the pack’s re-location is identified.
During a routine telemetry flight on July 8, the alpha male was located in a saddle south of the pen site, and the alpha female and yearling were south of the male. This is our first documentation of movement (about one mile) away from the pen site for this pack. We continue to provide this pack with supplementary food.
On July 6, the adult wolves were radio-tracked at night near the highway approximately seven miles from the den site and were hazed away by project staff. This is within the Pipestem Pack’s normal territory and staff heard howling between the packs. The pair returned to the den area the following morning. We continue to provide this pack with supplementary food.