April 18, 2007
Mexican Grey Wolf Status
Here is a brief outtake of information from the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Program Monthly report. If you are interested enough, you can obtain a full-length e-mail copy throught the AZ Game and Fish Dept or US Fish and Wildlife websites.
CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of March, the collared population consisted of 30 wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among nine packs and six single wolves. This number is different from last month because the IFT (Interagency Field Team) lethally removed Saddle pack M1007. Former single wolf M863 is now associating with the Aspen pack, and M1043, formerly of the Rim pack, is now considered a single wolf. Other uncollared wolves are known to be associating with wolves having radio collars, as well as being separate from known packs.
The IFT completed its 2006 end-of-year survey in January. During the survey, the IFT observed 31 collared wolves and 18 uncollared wolves associated with collared wolves, for a total of 49 wolves observed. The IFT used tracks, scat and other sign to identify 10 additional wolves, bringing the minimum end-of-year wolf population estimate to 59. However, wolf populations are dynamic, and these numbers may change on a daily basis. The IFT will provide a mid-year population estimate in the July 2007 monthly update.
SEASONAL NEWS
Mexican wolf pups are generally born mid-April to mid-May. In the upcoming months, the IFT will be actively monitoring wolves to determine if females are denning in order to document wild-born pups.
The IFT conducted 24 daily telemetry flights in March to document characteristics of wolf prey that they located near wolves with radio collars. The IFT identified 21 sites having evidence of prey remains for follow-up investigation. Of these sites, they found ten prey animals that they classified as confirmed or probable wolf kills. The IFT determined that wolves may possibly have killed three other prey animals, but not enough remained of the carcasses to determine the cause of death. They believe four prey animals died from other causes and wolves subsequently scavenged on them. The IFT was unable to find prey remains at four other investigation sites. Packs included in this year's effort were the Hawks Nest and Paradise packs in Arizona and the Aspen, Saddle and San Mateo packs in New Mexico.