Catron County Wolf
Hotline
Warning - Wolves Kill Pets
Not Just Cows
The information presented here is available in brochure form and may be obtained from the Catron County Wolf Interaction Investigator or the Catron County Commission
PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON - HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF BELOVED PETS!
There have been numerous wolf attacks documented on pets. Some pets suffer massive injuries, others die. The following investigative photographs are graphic and show what the children and rural families have to live with constantly. These attacks occurred on private property, at or near the home, by habituated wolves that seek out humans and human use areas. You cannot lawfully shoot a wolf to protect your pets on private property from wolf attacks.
Contact your congressional representative to request protective measures be enacted to protect your pets!
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This
is Stacy and her horse "Six" |
Remains of “Six” |
Pets Killed and Injured by Wolf Attacks
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Ty,
( 8 years old) looks at his injured
female dog. She and Ty's male dog below
were attacked by a wolf at his home
on private property. |
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| Ty’s male dog suffered multiple injuries. Necropsy documents massive hemorrhage and joint crushed by the wolf’s 1500 psi bite pressure and there were numerous bite sites on its body. | Ty’s male dog did not stand a chance against a wolf attack |
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| Lucky to be alive after wolf attack on private property | Chunks bitten
out of dog’s backend |
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Veterinarian reconstructed dog's head but had to amputate her ear |
Habituated Mexican Wolves
Habituated Mexican Wolves are wolves that lack wild characteristics. They are bold and seek out humans and human use areas. This type of wolf is a threat to our children, pets and livestock. It is documented that these habituated wolves have came to people’s homes, stood confronting humans at close range, and attacked pets in the yard, both injuring and killing them. Due to these wolf interactions, psychological trauma has been documented in our children by a family psychologist and a child psychiatrist. There are no protective measures in place to keep a wolf from biting a child.
Contact your congressional representative to request child protective measures be enacted.
Micha, age 13,
pointing to wolf tracks behind her home.
She
has to be armed when she goes outdoors as
the Durango Pack, A924 and AM973 have been
to her home 10 times in an 8-week period.
One of hundreds of wolf tracks at Micha's home
Elk Populations Reduced by Wolf Predation Means Lost Hunter Opportunity
According to 17-1-1 of the N.M. State Statutes (Declaration of Policy) it is the purpose and the policy of the State of New Mexico to provide an adequate and flexible system for the protection of the game and fish of New Mexico and for their use and development for PUBLIC RECREATION and FOOD SUPPLY and to provide for their PROPAGATION, PLANTING, PROTECTION, REGULATION and CONSERVATION to the extent necessary to PROVIDE and MAINTAIN an ADEQUATE SUPPLY of GAME and FISH within the state of New Mexico.
Biologists state that to maintain herd viability, 30 calves per 100 cows are needed. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists feel an elk herd's population can be maintained at objective and provide some hunter harvest when the ratio of calves to cows is around 25:100. Once ratios fall below 20:100 there is very little opportunity for hunting. Four elk herds in Wyoming with wolves present have dropped below 25 calves per 100 cows, and two of those herds are below 20 calves per 100 cows. Currently, the only elk herds in the state with recruitment rates that will not support hunting, or possibly even stable populations, are those with significant wolf predation.
We're very concerned about the effects of wolves on the state's elk herds and reduced hunting opportunities for the public. This report helps us understand how wolves are contributing to changes in our elk herds. Catron County also is seeing a reduction in elk population and the N.M. Game department is taking away permits to increase elk numbers. As wolf numbers increase, elk numbers will decline.
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Remains of spike elk killed by 2 wolves
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Spotted elk calf killed by a wolf Loss of calf crop = a reduction in the cow-calf ratio = a reduction of elk numbers = no hunting |
THE TRUTH ABOUT WOLF AF924
A History of Habituation
- Born into the San Francisco Pack in New Mexico in the Gila National Forest in 2005
- Captured at six weeks of age with the rest of the San Francisco Pack (removed due to intense livestock predation; lethal take order issued in case trapping was not successful)
- Transported to Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility; received physical exam, puppy vaccinations, fitted with collar
- Transported to the Ladder Ranch Wolf
Management Facility in late September 2005
Transported from Ladder Ranch back to Sevilleta in January 2006 - Released June 6, 2006, along with other wolves (Granite Pack) into the Gila Wilderness
- Confirmed as involved with killing a cow in mid-August, 2006 (strike one)
- Confirmed as involved with second depredation November 13, 2006 (strike two)
- Captured, bites human (incident is not properly reported), and even though the wolf should have been destroyed at that time per US FWS policy and procedures, she was transferred to Sevilleta November 17, 2006
- Bred while in captivity
- Released, allegedly pregnant, with AM973 (Durango Pack) in Gila National Forest on April 24, 2007 over the objections of Catron County (note: AF924 either was not pregnant or any pups did not survive)
- Left Gila Wilderness and came to Catron County
- First wolf-human incident reported May
1, 2007, less than one week after release
Nine additional wolf-human incidents at the same location involving this wolf were documented in an eight week period - Confirmed cow and calf kill June 29,
2007(strike three) just over two months
from release
Lethal take order issued by US FWS; AF924 lethally taken on July 5,2007
Note: The Catron County Commission warned US FWS and NM Game & Fish that this would happen; this wolf’s death would not have been necessary if they had acted on the information provided by the County.
The Durango Pack, AF924 and AM973, a stone’s throw from the Miller family home
Livestock Killed by AF924
1200+ pound
cow killed by Durango wolf AF924 (first strike)
Cow
killed by AF924 (second strike)
Cow killed by AF924 (third strike)
Wolf/Animal/Human
incidents
(as of 08/01/07)
| Pets - deaths | 4 |
| Pets - injuries | 5 |
| Total pet incidents | 9 |
| Livestock - deaths | confirmed - 28 probable - 1 possible - 17 |
| Livestock - injuries |
confirmed - 3 probable - 1 possible - 4 |
| Livestock - harassment |
confirmed - 1 probable - 0 possible - 2 |
Total livestock incidents |
57 |
| Wolf/Animal interactions on private property |
25 |
| Wolf/Human incidents |
57 |
| Wolf/Human incidents on private property | 31 |
A
Wolf-Human Encounter:
What you should do What you should know A wolf-human encounter usually occurs
on private property at or near homes,
or it may occur in the forest. Fearless
wolf behavior has been encountered on
numerous occasions in the BRWRA. A typical
wolf encounter is one where a person
observes a wolf on or near their property.
The person yells, screams, and waves
their arms. Sometimes warning shots are
fired into the air. The wolf stands looking
at them and is unafraid, then the wolf
slowly walks off. This type of fearless
wolf can show up at any residence while
traveling along corridors of cover. What you should do if you encounter
a wolf at close range: When wolves act aggressively,
their aggression is best deterred by an aggressive
response; people should NOT: When confronting an aggressive wolf,
it may be necessary to strike the wolf
with thrown or handheld objects: However, if the wolf has rabies, it will likely be persistent, may show little response to an aggressive defense, and if driven away will often immediately return. What you should know Habituated Wolf: A wolf with a decreasing avoidance response to a repeated, non-consequential stimulus; the loss of an animal’s fear response to people arising from frequent non-consequential encounters. (McNay 2002) This type of wolf behavior is fearless,
habituated to humans and homes. This
behavior exhibits a diminished avoidance
response in proximity to people, and
the lack of wild wolf characteristics. Notification of wolf interactions, sightings
call: Catron County Commission |