Don McDowell Outdoors

Mexican Gray Wolf Update – August 2020

CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of August, there were 37 named wolf packs (18 in AZ and 19 in NM) and 6 single collared wolves. There were 87 wolves with functioning radio collars that the IFT was actively monitoring. Not all of the wolves in the population are collared. Studbook numbers following individual pack names below denote wolves with functioning radio collars.

MORTALITIES
In August, the IFT documented m1911 of the Bear Canyon Pack dead in Arizona. The incident is under investigation. From January 1 to August 31, 2020, the IFT has documented 17 wolf mortalities.

INCIDENTS
During the month of August, there were eight confirmed wolf depredation incidents on livestock, no probable wolf depredations, one livestock injured by wolves and two investigations with determinations pending review. There was one nuisance incident investigated in August. From January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, there have been a total of 86 depredation incidents in New Mexico and a total of 40 depredation incidents in Arizona.

REWARDS OFFERED The USFWS is offering a reward of up to $10,000; the AZGFD Operation Game Thief is offering a reward of up to $1,000; and the NMDGF is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the shooting deaths of Mexican wolves. A variety of non-governmental organizations and private individuals have pledged additional funding for a total reward amount of up to $37,000, depending on the information provided.