Wolves are adaptable. They don’t require habitat management or manipulation to succeed. Rather, their interactions with humans make successful reintroduction a challenge. Agencies work together to manage interactions among wolves, livestock, and people, and have specific Standard Operating Procedures in place to guide them.

Photo Courtesy of the Interagency Field Team

Biologists and agency officials review all cases of possible depredation. They proved that this calf was killed and eaten by wolves.

The rate of wolf interactions with livestock and people is higher in most of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area than it is in other areas of the country where wolves have been reintroduced.
Photo Courtesy of George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department

In most of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area, cattle graze all year on public lands. Year-round grazing gives wolves more opportunities to encounter livestock. Wildlife services personnel have documented about 70 probable or confirmed depredations or livestock injuries since 1998. Reports are investigated by the USDA Wildlife Services as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours of the incident. Occasionally, suspected wolf depredations are the result of lion, bear, domestic dog or coyote kills, or other causes of death. When petitioned by livestock owners, an organization, Defenders of Wildlife, reimburses owners for the cost of livestock lost to confirmed wolf depredations.

Released wolves are conditioned to avoid humans. However, they can become habituated to humans if fed – as can bears, foxes and coyotes.
Photo Courtesy of George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Wolves defend their areas against coyotes and dogs, so people who walk with dogs in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area should take precautions and be aware of the potential for conflict. If a wolf is seen near livestock, owners can scare it off by yelling, chasing, and throwing objects near but not at it. Owners also can discharge firearms, but not in the direction of the wolves. Agencies are continuing to research methods to minimize damage caused by wolves.

Program biologists use mules to transport wolves to release sites in roadless areas.
Photo Courtesy of George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Wolves deemed eligible are released in the Primary Recovery Zone within the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area. After release, biologists continue to closely monitor the wolves. All adult-sized wolves are fitted with radio collars before they are released. In addition, biologists place radio collars on some wild-born wolves that are captured after reaching adulthood. Biologists use radio signals emitted from the collars to track and record the wolves’ movements. This helps biologists monitor the wolves, including identifying denning locations to monitor reproduction, monitoring the movements of packs, and tracking locations of specific wolves when suspected depredation occurs.

Photo Courtesy of George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Wolves that injure or kill livestock three times within a 365-day period are removed from the wild. Removal methods are guided by Standard Operating Procedures and include either relocation to another part of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area or permanent removal (permanently returned to captivity or euthanized). Since the reintroduction of wolves in 1998 through March 2007, 52 wolves have been removed after killing livestock.

Mexican wolves have been released into some of the mountainous forests and woodlands within their known historic range. They eat large and small mammals, and depend on a healthy population of large ungulates (elk, deer) to survive. They obtain most of their liquids through their food.

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Several paved roads cross the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area. Some established wolf home ranges include segments of paved roads; wolves use roadways as travel corridors and do not hesitate to cross roads. Roads may, however, impact the wolves’ reintroduction success due to collisions and increased interactions with humans.

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Pack hunting revolves around the chase, as wolves are able to run for long periods before relenting. It takes careful cooperation for a pack to take down large prey, and the rate of success is low. As a result, Mexican wolves usually feed only a couple times a week, eating up to 20 pounds of meat at a time.

A biologist, above, looks at a cow elk killed by wolves. People hunt the same game that wolves prey upon.
Photo Courtesy of George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department

While wolves can impact prey populations, it’s usually because there are other factors involved that also stress the prey – deep snow, drought, or disease. Wolf-predator studies show that most wolves rarely eliminate their prey, but may influence the size of prey populations. For instance, a prey population that was increasing without wolves would still increase with the presence of wolves, but more slowly. Also, if the prey population was already declining, the presence of wolves could accelerate the decline.

Estimated diet of wolves in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area based on diet analysis. Intensive monitoring shows that elk are the most common prey.

• Elk: 75%
• Small Mammals/Unknown: 11%
• Deer: 10%
• Livestock: 4%

View Large Map

In 1982, U.S. and Mexican wildlife agencies adopted the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, which called for maintaining a captive breeding program and re-establishing a population of at least 100 Mexican wolves within a small portion of their historic range.

The Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area encompasses the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and the Gila National Forest, and is divided into Primary and Secondary Recovery Zones. This is the area where the re-established Mexican Wolf population is managed and maintained.

• Primary Recovery Zone: This area, in Arizona, is the only part of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area where captive-bred wolves (with no experience in the wild) may be released. Captive-bred wolves with wild experience can be translocated into the secondary recovery zone.
• Secondary Recovery Zone: This national forest land next to the Primary Recovery Zone is an area where wolves are allowed to disperse. Wolves with experience in the wild, as well as those born in the wild, may also be moved to and released in this zone.
• Experimental Population Area Boundary: This is part of Arizona and New Mexico south of Interstate 40 and north of Interstate 10, as shown. Wolves that move outside of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area are considered part of the “nonessential, experimental” population as long as they stay within the Experimental Population Area boundary. If a wolf is captured in this area but outside of the BRWRA, it will be re-released within the recovery area or put into the captive population. The Service will NOT release wolves outside of the designated Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area into this larger Experimental Population Area. Wolves found outside of the Experimental Population Area boundary are afforded full protection under the Endangered Species Act.
• Historical Range: Mexican wolves inhabited this entire area, from Mexico through southern Utah and Colorado, before the arrival of European settlers.

The Service initiated a public scoping process to take public input on all aspects of eagle management, including permit terms and conditions, mitigation, cultural resources, research, and management objectives. The Service held four formal public input meetings and solicited public comment via Regulations.gov.

The purpose of the public scoping process was to determine relevant issues that could influence the scope of the analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing an environmental assessment (EA) or programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) and related compliance efforts. Factors currently considered for analysis in the EA or PEIS included:

• The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that implementation of any reasonable alternative could have on bald and golden eagles, migratory birds, other wildlife species, and their habitats
• Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of projects that are likely to take a minimal number of eagles and as such can be classified as “low-risk” or “low effect” and for which permitting at the individual project level could be expedited
• Effects on cultural resources
• Potentially significant impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality, water quality, water resources, economics, and other environmental/historical resources
• Strategies for avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating the impacts to eagles, migratory birds, wildlife, and other resources listed above
• Climate change effects

The Service received 517 unique comments during the public comment period. Approximately 213 people attended the meetings, and all were encouraged to submit written comments. Representatives from the Service were available to answer participants’ questions and listen to their ideas and concerns. Most of the discussions and comments could be categorized into eight major thematic areas:

• General comments against the killing of eagles (or for eagle protection)
• Proposed 30-year permit is too long (or keep the permit length at 5 years)
• Other permit length comments
• Falconry concerns or changes to eagle take for falconry
• Comments generally anti-wind energy facilities
• Comments generally pro-wind energy facilities
• A need exists for more research (or there is not enough information)
• Form letters originating from an organization, but sent by individuals

Visualize and explore public comments

Read public comments

Download public scoping meeting and comments report

Download Federal Register Notice Eagle Permits; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement, June 23, 2014

Public Open Houses will be held in the following communities. Click on the date for information about and maps to each meeting location. Those requiring assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act must contact Charna Lefton, 505-248-6911 or by electronic mail to [email protected] at least three days prior to the meeting they plan to attend. Persons who use a telecommunications service for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at (800) 877-8339, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Flagstaff, AZ Grand Ballroom

Radisson Woodlands Hotel-Flagstaff

1175 West Route 66

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

From South, East and West: Take I17 into Flagstaff, which merges into Milton Rd. At 5th stoplight, turn Left onto Route 66. Radisson is at the top of the hill on the Left.

From North: Take Hwy 89 into Flagstaff. Hwy 89 merges into Route 66. After 2nd stoplight past the bridge, turn Right on Route 66 (Hwy 89 and Route 66 split). Radisson is at the top of the hill on the Left.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Hon-dah, AZ Multipurpose Room

McNary School

108 North Pollack

McNary, AZ 85930

Located 3 miles East of Hon-dah Casino off of Hwy 260 in McNary, AZ.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Grants, NM Ballroom

Best Western

1501 East Santa Fe Ave.

Grants, NM 87020

From Interstate 40: Take Exit 85, travel 1/4 mile to the Best Western Inn & Suites, on Santa Fe Avenue (Historic Route 66).

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Albuquerque, NM Special Events Building

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

2401 12th St. NW

Albuquerque, NM 87104

From West: Take Interstate 40 to Exit 157B for 12th St. Turn left at 12th St. NW.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Socorro, NM Macey Conference Center Lobby/Foyer

New Mexico Tech

801 Leroy Pl

Socorro, NM 87801

From I-25, take exit 150. Head South on California Street (Socorro’s main street). Turn right on Bullock Ave. Head West (toward “M” Mountain). Go through the first stop sign. At second stop sign turn left. NMT will be on your right, on the corner of Bullock and Leroy.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Las Cruces, NM Tortugas Ballroom

Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

4100 Dripping Springs Rd

Las Cruces, NM 88011

Located just off Interstate 25 in Las Cruces at 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. Take the University Exit (Exit 1) and go East 1.5 miles.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Glenwood, NM
Glenwood Community Center Mengas Lane

Glenwood, NM 88039

Located on Mengas Lane off of Hwy 180 in Glenwood, NM.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Tucson, AZ Student Union Memorial Center (Tucson and Catalina Rooms)

University of Arizona

1303 E University Blvd

Tucson, AZ 85721

From Phoenix by Interstate 10: Exit at Prince Road (exit #254). Stay on the Frontage Road turning left onto East Speedway Blvd.

From South Tucson by Interstate 10: Exit at 29th Street (exit #259) onto the Frontage Road turning right onto East Speedway Blvd.

Visit the University of Arizona site for specific directions.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Phoenix, AZ Garnet, Emerald, and Sapphire Rooms

Glendale Civic Center

5750 West Glenn Drive

Glendale, AZ 85301

From East valley, exit I-17 at Glendale Avenue, head West to 57th Drive, turn right onto 57th Drive and continue one block.

From North valley, head South on 59th Avenue, turn left at Glenn Drive, continue to second block.

Route 101 – Exit at Glendale Avenue, head East to 57th Drive, left to Civic Center.

Route 202 – I-17. North to Glendale Avenue, West to 57th Drive, right to Civic Center.

I-10 – to Route 101, exit at Glendale Avenue, East to 57th Drive, left on 57th Drive to Civic Center.