The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a permanent removal order for the two Mexican wolves that make up the Nantac Pack. Since being placed in the wild on April 25, the pack has been involved in four confirmed depredation incidents involving five cows. They were also involved in two possible and two probable depredation incidents, also involving cows.
The alpha male (993) was removed by lethal means on June 18, 2006. The alpha female (873) remains in the wild in New Mexico. Efforts to trap, or lethally take her, continue.
Whenever an alleged wolf depredation occurs, a member of the wolf program's Interagency Field Team investigates. The agent uses a combination of necropsy techniques (e.g., bite marks, subcutaneous hemorrhaging) and presence of sign (tracks, hair, scat) to determine if there is wolf involvement. If a wolf was involved, the examination results in a confirmed, probable or possible conclusion. The difference between ?probable? and ?possible? determinations relies on the preponderance of evidence and professional judgment.
In the rule governing the Mexican gray wolf program, removal (including lethal take) is one of the tools to resolve livestock depredation problems when a wolf has been involved in three or more confirmed depredation incidents. Similarly, any livestock-related control actions (lethal or non-lethal) in the absence of confirmed kills, are prohibited.
The Nantac Pack, as are all Mexican wolves reintroduced under the Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Program, is part of a nonessential, experimental population. This designation allows for flexibility for managing wolves in conflict situations, including lethal take.
The reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf is a cooperative, multi-agency effort of the 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 Wildlife Services.
Visit the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov.
