Two Members of the Aspen Pack Killing Livestock

Mexican wolf management has been requested by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to trap two wolves in the Aspen Pack. The wolves in question, AM863 and F1046, have been involved in killing a horse and five cattle between January and October of this year. The attacks occurred within the Gila National Forest and two of them were on private land outside of the designated Mexican wolf area. The Aspen Pack in part of a larger restoration project of Mexican wolves and is being followed by conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts.

Because of the livestock deaths and the wolves roaming outside of the designated area, U.S. Fish and Wildlife began the procedures to find and catch the wolves and move them out of the area and into captivity.

There is one alpha male, one alpha female, another female, and an unrecorded number of young pups within the Aspen pack. There are also three other adult wolves as well, however one male disappeared and is presumed dead. He was also an alpha male. The plan is to only capture the two trouble makers which are the alpha male and the other female. U.S. Fish and Wildlife stated that if the pups or mother are caught, they will be equipped with radio collars and set free back into the Gila National Forest.

"It is anticipated that pack depredation behaviors will be disrupted with the capture and removal of these two members," said Benjamin Tuggle, PhD, Service's Southwest Regional Director. "By changing the pack dynamic, we anticipate the alpha female and the pups will return to feeding on wildlife. Removing wolves is always a tough call, but these decisions are made in the interest of the overall reintroduction efforts."

The Mexican wolf program in being run with the cooperation of Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, White Mountain Apache Tribe, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, and USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services.