Despite dicey weather conditions in the forested terrain of southwestern New Mexico and eastcentral Arizona, the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project's Interagency Field team has completed the 2006 wolf end-of-year count. The team observed 49 wolves, by using ground surveys and aerial surveys conducted by helicopter and fixed wing flights. They are confident another 10 wolves exist from tracks, scat and other indications bringing the population estimate to 59.
Surveys are completed in January of each year to assess the Mexican wolf population in the wild. Last year's survey estimated the population to be between 35 and 49. This year the team increased its surveying time in order to boost accuracy. In conjunction with the aerial operations, the Interagency Field Team conducted ground surveys in areas where there have been reports of people seeing un-collared wolves.
In Arizona, 23 wolves were spotted and 13 of them wore radio collars. The 23 were divided amongst five groups and one single, lone wolf. The team believes there are seven additional un-collared wolves traveling in two packs: one pack consists of three wolves and the other has four wolves.
In New Mexico, 26 animals were seen, 18 are radio collared. The 26 wolves are distributed among five groups with four lone wolves traveling solo. Signs indicate an additional three un-collared lone wolves occupy New Mexico's reintroduction area.
Throughout the entire range in Arizona and New Mexico, the breeding pairs count was seven. The number of breeding pairs is important to the upcoming breeding season. Wolves mate in February and March and give birth in May. Also, when the number of breeding pairs is six or more, the Service has added flexibility, such as issuing permits to livestock owners for more aggressive management actions on public lands under certain conditions.
During surveys, five wolves were collared and collaring efforts will continue as additional routine monitoring occurs year-round. Having at least two members of a pack collared helps with tracking the entire pack.
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