The Services special agents have been investigating the shooting and would like to talk to anyone who was in the area or may have other information. "Someone may have seen or heard something and have useful information but not even know it," said Frank S. Shoemaker, Jr., Southwest Assistant Regional Director - Law Enforcement. "Often some little thing will make the connection that leads to the violator. We can keep the source of information confidential."
The carcass of the alpha female of the Campbell-Blue pack, was found August 7, 1998, lying a short distance from a road on the opening morning of the bear hunting season in Arizona Unit # The wolf was killed during the morning hours near Forest Service Roads 249 and 276 on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest south of Springerville, Arizona. Initial investigation of the site revealed that the wolf was killed while feeding on a mountain lion-killed elk. Results of the necropsy performed by the Service=s National Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, confirmed that the wolf had been shot.
The female wolf, identified as #174, was born four years ago at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan. Just three months prior to her death, she had given birth to the first Mexican gray wolf pup known to survive in the wild since their re-introduction in the U.S. Unfortunately, her pup was last seen on August 22 and is presumed dead. It is not surprising, particularly when the surviving male was attempting to care for the pup alone. The first year of life is extremely tenuous for wild wolf pups.
The Service intends to begin reintroducing additional Mexican gray wolves later this year and early next year as part of the initial five-year recovery program. Four wolves, all male, remain in the wild. The Service hopes that the release of additional pairs and single females will be successful in attaining the goal of restoring a population of 100 Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprising more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
