Mexican wolves in New Mexico have been killing livestock at family homes and ranches again. Over the weekend this young mule was brutally run down and gutted by a pack of wolves. Needless to say this has gone on long enough. This pack needs to be shot or otherwise permanently removed.
Mexican wolf depredation
2011 Mexican Wolf Program Management Incidents Reports. Catron Co.
2011 complaint/investigation Results:
Wolf-Animal Incidents;
confirmed wolf depredations – cattle=23, horse colt=1,
probable wolf depredations – cattle= 2
injuries wolf confirmed – cattle=5
Wolf Related Incidences=total 31
unknown cattle deaths =13; includes not found in time to investigate,
lost evidence due to advanced decomposition, scavenging by
canines etc.
confirmed bear depredations – cattle=3
shipping sickness- cattle=1
Interesting wolf news in the New Mexico area
February
On February 7, WS personnel investigated a dead calf and severely injured cow just outside of the BRWRA near Canovas Creek in New Mexico, close to the Arizona border. The owner euthanized the cow shortly after both animals were discovered. The incident was confirmed as a wolf depredation, and the wolf responsible for the incident was F1105.
On February 8, WS personnel investigated five steers that had been attacked on private land outside of the BRWRA, north of Quemado, New Mexico. One of the steers died as a result of the attack, while the other four sustained severe injuries. WS personnel confirmed this incident as a wolf depredation, and the wolf or wolves responsible were determined to be uncollared animals. The IFT initiated trapping efforts in the area; however, no wolves were captured.
( interestingly enough, FWS never seem to be able to capture or confirm much less investigate uncollared wolves. Especially based on a ranchers sighting. This has been an ongoing problem for about 3 years.)
April
F1105 (collared) In April, the IFT documented this wolf traveling alone through the northern portions of the GNF. Last month, the IFT documented this wolf repeatedly traveling near and onto a private elk farm in the northern portions of the GNF, potentially interacting with domestic dogs in the vicinity. The IFT initiated trapping efforts to capture this wolf and perform an inspection regarding its breeding status. F1105 localized in the last part of April in the northern portion of the GNF and efforts to capture the wolf are still ongoing.
May
F1105 (collared) In April, the IFT documented this wolf traveling alone through the northern portions of the GNF. Last month, the IFT documented this wolf repeatedly traveling near and onto a private elk farm in the northern portions of the GNF, potentially interacting with domestic dogs in the vicinity. The IFT initiated trapping efforts to capture this wolf and perform an inspection regarding its breeding status. F1105 localized in the last part of April in the northern portion of the GNF and efforts to capture the wolf are still ongoing.
June/July
On May 6, the IFT responded to a report of an injured or sick wolf observed outside of Reserve, New Mexico. They captured an uncollared wolf, and a FWS veterinarian examined it in the field. The wolf died during transport to a veterinary facility in Arizona. An investigation into the cause of death is pending. INCIDENTS
Morgart’s Pack (collared M1155) Throughout June, the IFT documented this wolf traveling through the central portions of the GNF. The IFT obtained information this month that confirms that M1155 is now traveling with another wolf.
F1105 (collared) In June, the IFT documented this wolf traveling alone through the northern portions of the GNF. Earlier this spring, the IFT implemented capture operations to assist in determining the breeding status of this wolf. During trapping efforts in May, the IFT located a den with five pups. IFT personnel inspected the pups at the den site and collected blood samples for analysis to determine their genetic makeup. Tests indicated the pups were the result of the female breeding with a domestic dog. IFT personnel returned to the den, removed the four pups present, and humanely euthanized them. The IFT has confirmed that this wolf is traveling with a pup-sized canid in June, and efforts to capture this wolf have continued this month.
PROJECT PERSONNEL
The IFT is disappointed to announce that Ellen Heilhecker and Mischa Larisch from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will no longer be working on the Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project. Ellen has been with the Project since 2007, and has worked diligently during that time to further Mexican wolf recovery goals in New Mexico. Mischa has been with the Project for just over a year, and has provided a solid field presence working proactively with livestock producers to reduce conflicts on the ground. Many thanks to both of you for your efforts. You will be missed!
Catron County Commission Demands Wolf Incident Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESERVE, NM. “The wolf issue is one of the biggest problems the county has faced,” said Catron County Commission Chairman Hugh B. McKeen to Tod Stevenson, Director of New Mexico Department of Game & Fish at a regularly scheduled public meeting on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. With Mr. Stevenson were RJ Kirkpatrick, Assistant Director NM Game & Fish; Jim McClintic, Chairman New Mexico State Game Commission; and Dick Salopek, New Mexico State Game Commission. An audience of nearly 100 people attended the meeting.
In late January a formal complaint was filed by the county with NM Governor Martinez regarding a wolf depredation investigation that occurred on January 18, 2011. Catron County contends that NM Game & Fish wolf biologists Ellen Heilhecke and Mischa Larisch allegedly sought to influence or change the official investigation findings of Sterling Simpson and Armando Orona of US Wildlife Services during an on-site investigation as to the cause of death of a cow.
“Influencing or attempting to influence the findings of another agency’s official investigation brings up a lot of problems,” said Catron County’s Wolf Incident Investigator, Jess Carey. “The credibility of the game department wolf biologist is now lost.” Simpson and Orona did confirm that the cow was killed by wolves, with Carey concurring.
“Other findings of confirmed wolf kill have been changed to probable in the past,” Carey said. “How can you change documented evidence?”
Stevenson confirmed that Larisch did call and relay a message from Heilhecke to the Wildlife Services personnel while the investigation was in progress, but denied that any impropriety occurred.
“My staff said they did not say that Wildlife Services should modify the finding from confirmed to probable,” Stevenson said. “My folks called and said there were feral dogs in the area to take into consideration.”
“There were no feral dogs on this ranch,” Carey said. “Last year, several miles away, a neighbor was letting his house dogs run loose, but that problem was resolved. Mr. Simpson concurred: There are no feral dogs out there”.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Catron County Attorney Ron Shortes stated that he agreed with the Commissioners’ and Carey’s call for an independent, third party investigation of the incident.
“I think you have a conflict of interest when you say you have an obligation to facilitate this Mexican wolf recovery program vs. your constitutional obligation to the people of NM to protect wildlife,” Shortes said.
“While an independent investigation is needed, my ultimate feeling is that you have a bunch of good people with the New Mexico Game Commission and NM Game & Fish trying to do their best, but I’m wondering if they’re trying to do too much,” Shortes said. “They’re assisting the recovery program on one hand, trying to protect wildlife on the other – is there any possibility of trust while that’s going on?”
After a show of hands to see how people in the audience felt, the Catron County Commissioners voted unanimously to go ahead with their request of Governor Martinez for a full, independent investigation of the incident. Director Stevenson volunteered to provide a synopsis of the progress of the investigation by April 15, 2011.
“Catron County has taken a no-wolf stand,” McKeen said. I’m requesting that you take a no-wolf stance, too. It’ll do us all good – we’re not only concerned about livestock but wildlife, too.”
Contact:
Bill Aymar, Catron County Manager
PO Box 507
Reserve NM 87830
(575) 533-6423
ccmanager@gilanet.com
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Text: 555 words
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State legislators and National leadership should read this document.
Mexican Wolf Recovery Program Pamplet 2
Wolves are killing small communities, livlihoods, game and domestic animals. Make no mistake further government protection is damaging to the environment.
Not going to miss wolves at all#
Not going to miss wolves at all#. Response to AZ Central article from a few days ago. I agree wholeheartedly.
Third Annual Cliff NM Cowboy Dinner and Dance Feb 19, 2011
Please mark your calendars for the third annual Cliff NM Cowboy Dinner and Dance February 19
At the Cliff fair barn. Dinner starts at 6 PM the Delk Band at 8 PM.
Proceeds from the party are being used to fund the legal action by Gila Livestock Growers Association, APWE, Otero Co and Catron Co. New Mexico to force FWS to comply with current wolf management rules as they relate to livestock and human protections.
To donate to the legal fund use the paypal button at the top of this website. The lawsuit is estimated to cost our small organizations around 80 thousand dollars. We are in the beginning stages and although we have been holding fundraisers for some time, only our first two were highly successful in terms of financial intake. We are competing against the unlimited resourses of the federal government and the US Justice Department as well as Environmental Extremists who have access to taxpayer money to sue the government to regulate us out of business using the Equal Access to Justice Funds. Please consider assisting us in protecting rural people in their own communities from these constant attacks that undermine the stability of rural lifestyles and business opportunities.
First 2011 New Mexico wolf release
January 27 the Morgart male was picked up by helicopter during year end counts, while trying to mate naturally with a wolf from the middle fork pack. He was placed into an enclosure near the AZ border on the Quemado forest service district, where he chewed his way out of the enclosure. The FWS then tailgate released a 3 year old Aspen pack female from the wolves kept at Turner pens. The Aspen pack female used in the release was removed from the Adobe ranch in Dec 2007 along with her littermates and parents, for participating in multiple yearling depredations on deeded land between the ages of 6-9 months. Attached is a link to video of this depredation. New promises have been made that these wolves will be removed if they again choose to depredate cattle. That is pretty unlikely since FWS haven’t removed depredating wolves since this video occured in 2008. Ranchers were told Governor Susanna Martinez signed off on the release.
Luna pack in Catron County Ranch Cattle. Agencies won’t confirm kills – won’t remove or move wolves.
Currently the pack has caused one rancher to sell off half his herd and consider selling his ranch, and has also caused another to seriously ratchet up management practices and kill investigations. Constant herd surveillance and professional necropsies on wolf killes calves, is no guarantee that calves won’t be killed and wolves will be managed. But certainly, livestock sale to stop depredation is no option for those who wish to continue owning a ranch that is economically viable.
FWS left messages for the rancher loosing calves explaining that the agency feels it isn’t necessary to remove chronic problem wolves, nor bait them away from livestock, as they have other packs by leaving feed stations.
The strategy seems to be one of, get your livestock off so they won’t be killed, and we will do nothing to manage the wolves.
NM Department of Game and Fish a cooperating agency, chose to establish a feed station for the wolves on the neighboring ranch where livestock had been sold.
Trust was erroded however when the NMF&G biologist arbitrarily ordered a change from a Wildlife Service confirmed calf kill to a possible kill thus rendering it as non compensable, confirmed kills qualify for Farm Service Agency emergency compensation funding authorized by the Farm Bill.
Defenders of Wildlife no longer compensates for wolf kills, leaving its Bailey Fund available for other issues.
A sorry state of affairs from Southwest New Mexico and its already precarious rural economy. Meanwhile wolf worship goes on in our urban communities.
Photos. 3 of the 6 Luna wolves being hazed out of cows by ranchers.
‘Watershed year’ expected for Mexican gray wolves
By Susan Montoya Bryan
Associated Press
Published: Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 10:50 a.m. MST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Another year has passed and the effort to return the endangered Mexican gray wolf to the Southwest is no closer to marking success than when federal wildlife officials first set out with their lofty goals decades ago.
But this year is going to be different. It’s going to be what U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest director Benjamin Tuggle calls “a watershed year,” and at the top of his list is bringing together scientists, conservationists, ranchers and others to develop a much-needed roadmap for the wolf’s recovery.
“We have battled this demon a very long time and finally we’ve gotten the go-ahead in a number of ways. It is my firm belief that we’re going to make some significant progress,” Tuggle told The Associated Press in an interview.
The effort to return the wolves to the wild in New Mexico and Arizona has been hampered by illegal shootings, court battles, complaints from ranchers who have lost livestock and pets to the wolves, and concerns by environmentalists over the way the reintroduction program has been managed.
In 2010, there were six wolf deaths. All but one involved suspicious circumstances.
Two lawsuits were filed — one by conservationists and the other by ranching groups and two southern New Mexico counties.
A few New Mexico lawmakers pushed unsuccessfully to get state game officials to help reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock, and a dozen congressional lawmakers requested that federal officials make changes in the program and consider releasing more wolves into the wild.
The goal this year, Tuggle said, will be finding balance between science and the impact of management actions on people in the region. That balance has eluded the program since the federal government began releasing Mexican wolves along the Arizona-New Mexico border in 1998.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Tuggle said. “You’ve got these divergent groups that are very opinionated.”
The Mexican gray wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, once roamed New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Mexico. As more people began to settle in the Southwest, conflict arose between the wolves, people and livestock. Hunting and government-sponsored extermination campaigns all but wiped out the wolf.
The wolf was added to the federal endangered species list in 1976 and a captive-breeding program was started. A recovery plan was adopted in 1982 and the first 11 wolves were released in March 1998.
Biologists had hoped to have more than 100 wolves in the wild by 2006. At the beginning of 2010, the count was 42.
With the annual wolf survey starting in less than two weeks, wildlife managers hope they can spot more wolves on the snowy landscape. There’s hope since pups were spotted with a few packs during the fall.
The survey involves a spotter plane, a helicopter, radio telemetry equipment and ground support.
“The thing that helps us get a really accurate number is the fact that we have a lot of collared wolves compared to the total number of wolves on the ground. Being that wolves are pack animals, it’s pretty easy to find them,” said Wally Murphy, a Fish and Wildlife Service supervisor in New Mexico.
Neither Murphy nor Tuggle wanted to venture a guess at how many wolves might be out there.
“We expect it will improve,” Murphy said. “How much it will improve is yet to be seen.”
Aside from the count, the focus this year is on releasing more captive wolves, finding more money for an interdiction fund to help ranchers with livestock depredations and developing a new recovery plan.
A team of scientists, state and federal wildlife managers, tribal officials and other stakeholders is being assembled to hash out details of the plan. The first meeting is expected in February, and Tuggle hopes to have a plan ready for public review in a year.
Eva Lee Sargent of the group Defenders of Wildlife said she believes more people would be willing to get on board if the recovery goals — and the means to getting there — were clearly spelled out.
“What the program really needs is to be based on science and not based on the squeaky wheel and politics,” she said.
Caren Cowan, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, said her group appreciates what Tuggle is trying to do but finding middle ground will be difficult if environmentalists continue to push for establishing wolf populations in more areas and bringing an end to grazing permits on national forest land.
Cowan said the balance between having wolves in the wild and ranchers continuing with their livelihood will not come down to a number, but rather to how the wolves are managed.
“We live with other predators. There are coyotes out there, there are bears, there are lions, but we’re able to manage them and we certainly have not extirpated all of those predators. But when you find an offending one, you have to have the ability to deal with it,” she said. “That’s the frustration with the wolf situation.”
Cowan and Sargent said fixing the problems will take more than a year, but everyone is willing to try.
Tuggle acknowledges that mistakes have been made, but he said officials are learning from them.
Tuggle remembers the first time he saw a Mexican gray wolf. It was in a captive facility. He said could imagine that animal roaming the Gila National Forest or somewhere else.
“I’ve heard wolves in the wild, I’ve seen them in the wild, and I have a full appreciation of that species and the charismatic nature of that species and that’s what really motivates me in terms of the Mexican gray wolf. I see the potential of what this species can be on the landscape.”
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