HIKING WITH WOLVES

WOLVES IN ARIZONA 2014 UPDATE

No, that "wolf" you saw in South Mountain Park, Phoenix was probably a coyote. This is an easy assumption because Arizona wolves are rare and live in remote areas far from cities.

Hunted to near extinction in the last century,  reintroduction of Mexican Grey Wolves into east-central Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests began in 1998.  Since then, the population  has grown to 13 packs consisting of 46 animals with functional radio collars and 5 single wolves. Both revered and reviled, the beasts roam mainly in the Blue Range Primitive Area near the New Mexico border. The recovery area includes many terrific White Mountains hiking trails and although wolves are generally not a threat to people, it's a good idea to know where the packs roam and how to handle an encounter. Back in 2006, I was lucky enough to spot a wolf while hiking in the Blue. The animal darted across the trail several yards ahead of me, then went behind a tree and froze. I froze too. While I tried to quietly get my camera, the beast peeked at me, tail twitching, giving me a good enough look at its face to determine that ,yes, this was a wolf, not a coyote. The wolf appeared frightened as he/she seemed to weigh escape options before bolting off into the forest. It was a moment I'll never forget! AZ Game & Fish has just posted a wolf project update on their website. There's lots of good information about the program and telemetry flight locations of the packs.

WOLF LOCATIONS AS OF 1-6-2014:

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/documents/IFD1.6.14.pdf

Arizona Game & Fish Wolf Info: 928-339-4329

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/wolf_reintroduction.shtml

THE WOLVES ARE ALRIGHT

ARIZONA GAME & FISH ISSUES POST-WALLOW FIRE  UPDATE ON MEXICAN GREY WOLF PACKS 
Arizona Game & Fish has issued a press release summarizing the status of Mexican Grey Wolves as of the end of July 2011. Most survived the WALLOW FIRE and many pups have been spotted! Here's a excerpt—the entIre press release may be viewed by clicking on the embedded links.

CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of July 2011, the collared population consisted of 24 wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among ten packs and three single wolves.  Some other uncollared wolves are known to be associating with radio-collared wolves, and others are separate from known packs. 
Seasonal note:  During the past three months, the IFT has been actively monitoring wolf packs to determine if females are denning in order to document wild-born pups and estimate their survival.  At the end of July, the IFT determined the following packs have produced pups during this year’s denning season:  Paradise, Hawks Nest, Bluestem, San Mateo, Luna and Middle Fork.  Three other packs, Fox Mountain, Dark Canyon and Rim, have displayed denning behavior; however, the IFT has been unable to confirm the presence of pups with these packs.  Three of these packs in Arizona, including Hawks Nest, Bluestem and Rim, were impacted by the Wallow Fire in June.  At least two pups from the Bluestem Pack and six pups from the Hawks Nest Pack were documented alive after the fire impacts had subsided.  The IFT is working to determine if any pups from the Rim Pack are currently traveling with that pack.
IN ARIZONA:
Bluestem Pack (collared AM806 and AF1042)Throughout July, the IFT located AM806 and AF1042 in their traditional territory in the central portion of the ASNF.  The IFT confirmed at least two pups with this pack in July.  Their den area was impacted by the Wallow Fire earlier this summer.    
Hawks Nest Pack (collared AF1110 and f1208)In July, AF1110 and f1208 continued to use their traditional territory in the north-central portion of the ASNF.  The IFT confirmed the presence of six pups with this pack in July.  This pack’s den area was impacted by the Wallow Fire; however, the IFT has continued to locate AF1110 and f1208 in the vicinity adjacent to the original den site throughout July. 
 Rim Pack (collared AM1107, AF858, f1187 and f1213)Throughout July, the IFT located the Rim Pack utilizing its summer range on the central portion of the ASNF.  The den area for this pack was impacted by the Wallow Fire, also.  The IFT has been unable to document the presence of any pups with this pack in July.
Paradise Pack (collared AM795) In July, AM795 utilized the traditional summer range of its territory on the northern portion of the ASNF.  The IFT has confirmed the presence of at least five pups with this pack this month. 

The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project (Project) activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) and Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) and in New Mexico on the Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF).  Non-tribal lands involved in this Project are collectively known as the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA).  Additional Project 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 http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf.  Past updates may be viewed on either website, or interested parties may sign up to receive this update electronically by visiting http://www.azgfd.gov/signup.  This update is a public document and information in it can be used for any purpose.  The Reintroduction Project is a multi-agency cooperative effort among the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), 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) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT).  Other entities, including private individuals and nongovernmental organizations, cooperate through the Project’s Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) that meets periodically in Arizona and New Mexico.
To view weekly wolf telemetry flight location information or the 3-month wolf distribution map, please visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf.  On the home page, go to the “Wolf Location Information” heading on the right side of the page near the top and scroll to the specific location information you seek.
Please report any wolf sightings or suspected livestock depredations to:  (928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653.  To report incidents of take or harassment of wolves, please call the AGFD 24-hour dispatch (Operation Game Thief) at (800) 352-0700.

MEXICAN GREY WOLVES UPDATE

JUNE 2011 WALLOW FIRE & MEXICAN GREY WOLVES UPDATE LINK: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/MWWFU_6-13-11.pdf


Dec. 7, 2010 Arizona Game and Fish reaffirms commitment to Mexican wolf conservation   Department continues day-to-day management as it seeks to play greater role in conservation effort     PHOENIX – On Dec. 4, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted to support Congressional actions to delist the gray wolf from protection under the Endangered Species Act. The commission reaffirmed its strong commitment to Mexican wolf conservation, but recognized that progress on the program had been stalled since 2001 due to the current federal process that guides Mexican wolf conservation and the impact of unceasing environmental litigation. “The current Mexican wolf conservation program is in gridlock, and while we support the Endangered Species Act, we recognize that in the case of the wolf, it has helped create an impasse that could lead to the demise of the species in the wild,” says Terry Johnson, Ph.D., endangered species coordinator of the Game and Fish Department. “The discussion that led to the Game and Fish Commission’s decision recognizes that it is both unfortunate, and ironic that successful Mexican wolf conservation may hinge on removing it from the Congressional act intended to help restore it.” Through the commission’s action, they anticipate that the Game and Fish Department will become even more heavily involved in planning the future of the species and the day-to-day activities in a more affordable, efficient and effective manner “Continuous litigation on wildlife conservation efforts, including wolves, has left wildlife management decisions to the judiciary instead of with the experts – the natural resources agencies. This litigation-driven bureaucratic process also drives up the cost of conservation, making Mexican wolf conservation unaffordable for anyone,” added Johnson. The commission discussed that Congressional involvement is necessary to break the regulatory and litigious gridlock that Mexican wolf conservation has endured for many years before the demise of the species in the wild. Federal partnerships have been, and will continue to be, essential to continuing Mexican wolf conservation, and the commission invites all stakeholders to the table who are willing to participate in seeking solutions that will lead to effective, productive Mexican wolf conservation. Wolves in Arizona will continue to be protected wildlife through state statutes. Arizona’s involvement in Mexican wolf conservation began in the mid-1980s, with exploration of the feasibility of reintroducing wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service selected the Blue Range area in east-central Arizona as the reintroduction site, and the first 11 captive-reared wolves were released there in 1998. The Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area encompasses east-central Arizona and west-central New Mexico. The Fort Apache Indian Reservation also plays an integral part in the reintroduction effort. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/mexican_wolf.shtml

MEXICAN GREY WOLVES

In June of 2008 while hiking in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest I was lucky enough to spot one of the area's re-introduced Mexican grey wolves. It was a moment I'll never forget---the beast was magnificent. To learn more about this endangered species, check out the links below. The first link features a recording of the harmonic howling of the Bluestem Pack-- which is located south of Big Lake in eastern Arizona and consists of an alpha mating pair and several pups. It will give you goose bumps. (These photos were taken at the Phoenix Zoo---I was too stunned to get my camera in time to capture the wild wolf). http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/wolf_reintroduction.shtml http://www.mexicanwolves.org/