Mexican wolf dies during routine management activities in Arizona

Joint announcement from Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A yearling female Mexican wolf died over the weekend during routine handling in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Members of the Mexican wolf interagency field team from the Arizona Game and Fish Department were conducting an intentional capture effort using the approved protocol to fit radio-telemetry collars on members of the Bluestem Pack that remained uncollared, when f1289, a previously collared animal, was captured in a padded foot trap.

The trap sent a signal when it sprung and experienced team members were on site within 15 minutes. The animal moved the trap into rocky terrain on the edge of a slope, making it difficult for the team to process the wolf. Using a catch pole and Y-pole (like those used for capturing and restraining domestic dogs), the team removed f1289 from the trap and during processing found that the animal was no longer breathing. Emergency treatment including CPR was unsuccessful in reviving the wolf.

The team on site had years of wolf capture experience and had just completed a refresher capture training course the week prior. Only two other incidents of capture-related mortality in the wild have occurred during the 15-year history of the Mexican wolf reintroduction project, which has included hundreds of captures.

"The loss of this wolf is a very unfortunate and unusual outcome to a routine management activity that is necessary to the recovery of the Mexican wolf. Radio collars are the best method for tracking wolves and knowing where the wolves are is critical for effective management. As it has reiterated over the years, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission remains committed to Mexican wolf recovery and to the active, hands-on management that is essential to that effort's success," says Chairman John Harris of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

"The loss of this individual wolf is a result of a very unfortunate accident that can occur when you have such a highly managed species. While I am saddened by the loss of this juvenile wolf, I continue to support our field team and their track record of safely handling wolves. We will analyze the events associated with this incident, implement appropriate changes, and insure that measures are taken that will minimize the chances of any similar occurrence in the future," said Benjamin Tuggle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Southwest regional director.

The Service will be conducting a necropsy at a veterinary diagnostic lab in Albuquerque, N. M. to determine the cause of death.

All wolf captures are conducted using a capture protocol that is approved by experts and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The circumstances surrounding this accident will be thoroughly reviewed.

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