Endangered-wolf count suspended after 2 animals die

[Judi Lynn]

Endangered-wolf count suspended after 2 animals die

USA Today NetworkBrandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic 8:45 p.m. EST February 2, 2016

PHOENIX — Federal and state wolf biologists in Arizona and New Mexico have temporarily halted an annual capture-and-count operation after the deaths of two endangered Mexican gray wolves that they shot with darts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that two female wolves died in late January.

One was killed immediately after it was darted from a helicopter with a tranquilizer; the other died a few days after it was captured, fitted with a transmitting collar and released.

The agency said the operation had used the same drugs and handling guidelines used successfully during the past two years and that 13 other wolves were successfully captured and released this winter.

. . .



More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/02/02/endangered-wolf-counts-suspended-animals-die/79727720/

(I just spotted a tranquilizer dart on the wolf's right rear foot.

If only these wonderful animals can be restored.)

[tazkcmo]

1. How sad.

Beautiful animals. Breaks my heart.

[rpannier]

2. Very Sad

[In_The_Wind]

3. The two wolves I've known were beautiful animals.

[2naSalit]

4. Litlle known fact...

many wild animals die from the shock of being capture or handled by humans. Necropsies should be conducted.

This wolf population has had a hard go of it for the last 25 years at least, mostly due to ranchers killing them off or killing some of them every time there has been a release. It's just as bad as the northern Rockies DPS fight that had been going on since before the reintroduction 21 years ago... all the same emotional arguments with not data to back up any arguments from wolf opponents.