Wild+Life E-news
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June 2022
In This Issue
- Partner Projects: Eleven Mexican wolf pups journey from captive facilities across U.S. to join wild population
- AZGFD in the News: Arizona’s new hunting rules will help mountain lions. Here’s how I know
- Wild Arizona: A century later, native longfin dace returned to Santa Cruz River
- Walk on the Wild Side: Wenima Wildlife Area
- Upcoming Events: Virtual speaker wildlife series
- Video of the Month: Wildlife crossings
Partner Projects: Eleven Mexican wolf pups journey from captive facilities across U.S. to join wild population
Eleven genetically valuable, captive-born Mexican wolf pups have been placed into wild dens to be raised by their wild surrogate parents after another successful fostering season. Now in its seventh year, the Mexican wolf fostering program continues to help boost the genetic diversity of this endangered subspecies.
Over a three-week period this spring, 11 pups were fostered into five wild packs across New Mexico and Arizona. The pups traveled from captive facilities across the U.S. as part of a coordinated effort to place genetically diverse wolves into the wild population in support of recovery efforts.
Fostering is a proven method used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) to increase genetic diversity in the wild Mexican wolf population. It begins with carefully managed breeding by the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) program to produce genetically diverse pups within the captive population. Within 14 days of whelping (being born), the captive-born pups are transported to the wild and mixed together with similarly aged wild pups.
Once all of the pups are placed back into the wild den, the breeding female’s maternal instinct kicks in. She will feed and care for both the wild and captive-born pups. With the help of her pack mates, the pups will be raised with the skills and knowledge needed for a life in the wild. The IFT has documented that fostered pups have the same survival rate as wild-born pups in their first year of life (about 50%).
“The care, planning and teamwork that went into this year’s cross-fostering is remarkable,” said Ed Davis, biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Many contributed to the success of this year’s efforts, including interns, biologists, veterinarians, captive facility staff, and individuals that provided flight support. It will take all of us continuing to work together to achieve greater genetic diversity in the wild population.”
Five different captive-born litters provided Mexican wolf pups for fostering into the wild population. The following facilities provided pups this year:
- Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Ill.: One litter provided three pups fostered into the Whitewater Canyon Pack in New Mexico.
- El Paso Zoo in El Paso, Texas: One litter provided two pups fostered into the Dark Canyon Pack in New Mexico and one pup fostered into the Iron Creek Pack in New Mexico.
- Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, N.Y: One litter provided one pup fostered into the Iron Creek Pack in New Mexico.
- Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.: One litter provided two pups fostered into the Panther Creek Pack in Arizona.
- Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, in Socorro, N.M.: One litter provided two pups fostered into the Buzzard Peak Pack in New Mexico.
Aerial support for this year’s operations was provided by LightHawk Conservation Flying and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Aviation Program.
“Although the 11 pups fostered is lower than hoped for, it is a major contribution to managing genetic improvements in the wild population,” said Jim deVos, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Mexican wolf coordinator. “Since the inception of the program, 83 pups have been placed into wild wolf dens and as a result, three of four genetic criteria have shown improvements, which bodes well for the long-term survival of the Mexican wolf. Planning has already begun for the 2023 fostering program, with a goal of getting more pups in dens next year than this year.”
Since the beginning of the cross-fostering program, a minimum of 13 pups have survived at least two years in the wild and reached breeding age. Four of these have reproduced in the wild, and a minimum of seven litters from cross-fostered wolves have been documented through 2021. In addition to the four cross-fostered wolves that have already been documented reproducing in the wild, the IFT has observed denning behavior this spring from three other 2-year-old cross-fostered wolves that are breeding for the first time in 2022. Results from observed denning behavior will not be documented until later in the spring and summer when pups become active and more visible.
Pups are too young to be fitted with radio collars when fostered, but genetic samples are taken so they can be identified if captured at a later date. It is likely that other fostered pups are currently alive and contributing to improving the genetic diversity of the wild population and helping meet recovery criteria, but have not yet been recaptured.
The IFT will continue to monitor the packs that pups were placed in through GPS and radio telemetry signals from collars on older wolves within the pack to avoid further disturbance. Later, through remote camera observations and efforts to capture the young of the year, the IFT plans to document additional survival of cross-fostered pups as well as genetically diverse offspring from cross-fostered wolves that are now having litters of their own.
The end-of-year census for 2021 showed a minimum of 196 wild Mexican wolves in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area. This marked a 5% increase in the population from a minimum of 186 wolves counted at the end of 2020. This is the sixth consecutive year of growth in the wild population and represents a doubling of the population since 2015.
Cross-fostering is a coordinated effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Lands Office, U.S. Forest Service, and the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan.
For more information on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website
AZGFD in the News: Arizona’s new hunting rules will help mountain lions. Here’s how I know
Want to learn more about mountain lion management in Arizona? Read the recent guest opinion column in The Arizona Republic written by Brian Jansen, Ph.D., a mountain lion biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
The article is a condensed version of a longer article by Jansen that is posted on AZGFD’s website.
Wild Arizona: A century later, native longfin dace returned to Santa Cruz River
Native longfin dace are once again swimming in the Santa Cruz River for the first time in more than 100 years.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pima County, the University of Arizona, and the Sonoran Institute recently teamed up to place more than 600 of the two- to three-inch fish off “The Loop” bike trail in Tucson and along portions that run through Pima County. The longfin dace were translocated from Cienega Creek in Vail, Ariz.
While not endangered or threatened, the tiny fish complement the endangered Gila topminnow, which occurred naturally in the river in Nogales in 2015 and in the county in 2017. AZGFD also placed more than 500 Gila topminnows in the Santa Cruz River in 2020.
“The presence of native fish in the Santa Cruz after such a long absence was made possible by improved wastewater treatment by the city and county,” said Raul Vega, supervisor for AZGFD’s regional office in Tucson.
“We are gratified that the Tucson community has embraced this effort to return native species to their home ranges wherever possible. The return of native fish to the Santa Cruz has been celebrated in Tucson with art in public places, exhibits, and at birding and nature festivals.”
— Mark Hart, public information officer, Tucson
Walk on the Wild Side: Wenima Wildlife Area
The Wenima Wildlife Area, located about three miles northwest of the towns of Springerville and Eagar in the White Mountains, is an excellent place to view a wide variety of birds.
While birding can be rewarding throughout the year, the best times are spring, summer and fall. Some of the species of waterfowl, birds and raptors that can be seen here include golden eagle, American kestrel, belted kingfisher, blue grosbeak, indigo bunting, black-crowned night-heron, green-backed heron, yellow-breasted chat, black phoebe, gray catbird, and a variety of migrating warblers and songbirds. Check the bluff edges for raptors. Both mountain and western bluebird are found in the junipers in winter.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department acquired part of the property in 1993 (and the remainder in 1995) and has steadily enhanced habitat values and the attractions for visitors. Two hiking trails provide easy access to both streamside and upland areas where visitors can view beaver, mule deer, pronghorn, ringtail cat, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and lizards. Powerhouse Trail is .7 mile in length, proceeding south from the east side of the bridge over the Little Colorado River, while Beavertail Trail runs 1.5 miles north, starting from the west side of the bridge.
To get to the Wenima Wildlife Area, take U.S. Highway 60 a couple miles west going out of Springerville. At the junction of U.S. Highways 60 and 180/191, go a quarter-mile north on Highway 180/191 and look to turn right onto a graded dirt road going northeast. After 1.5 miles, the graded road drops a short distance into the Little Colorado River canyon corridor. Park at the designated parking area next to the restroom and information kiosks. The wildlife area is open from sunrise to sunset.
Upcoming Events: Virtual speaker wildlife series
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has partnered with the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) to host virtual wildlife lectures. In addition to partnering with SWCC, the department’s Wildlife Viewing Program will conduct its own critter-based lectures twice each month.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has partnered with the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) to host virtual wildlife lectures. In addition to partnering with SWCC, the department’s Wildlife Viewing Program will conduct its own critter-based lectures twice each month.
Coming up:
- Desert Mammals — 6:30-8 p.m., June 16 (SWCC). Description: Arizona has a fascinating diversity of plants and animals. In fact, the Grand Canyon State has one of the most diverse mammalian faunal assemblages in the nation, with 134 native mammal species. Learn about these different species that call Arizona home. Register
- Misunderstood Creatures of the Night — Bats! — 6:30-8 p.m. July 14 (AZGFD). Description: Bats are misunderstood creatures. These flying mammals are an amazing species that fill an important niche. Learn about the different species that inhabit Arizona, their natural history, and what makes these animals so fascinating. Register
- Incredible Crawling Critters — Scorpions! — 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 11 (AZGFD). Description: One of the longest-lived groups of critters on the planet, scorpions have largely remained unchanged for millions of years. In fact, those found in your backyard are quite similar to their ancestors of the Paleozoic Era. Learn about the natural history of scorpions, and the important role they play in the ecosystems in which they live. Register
Video of the Month: Wildlife Crossings
Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists and road ecologists have been working with the Arizona Department of Transportation and other agencies across the nation, advising them on how to build wildlife-crossing structures. The goal is to potentially make roads safer by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintaining landscape connectivity for wildlife.
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