Update: Blue Range Wolf Reintroduction Area and Wallow Fire Information

For all of you who have been concerned about the safety of Mexican gray wolf packs in the area affected by the Wallow Fire, this report from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service should help allay some of your fears.

Wallow Fire has burned over three wolf pack dens:

1. The Rim Pack (AF858, AM1107, F1187, f1213)  The fire burned through the Rim Pack den area on Friday June 3rd, and burned with a mixed burn regime, and not a complete high intensity burn as was previously thought. The Rim Pack adults were located in the den area on the 6-13-11 wolf telemetry flight. The adults continuing to utilize the den area may be an indication that the pups survived the fire. This pack does not have a GPS collar, and monitoring is based on VHF locations from the helicopter and airplane. We have not yet counted the number of pups in this pack during this year.

2. The Bluestem Pack (AF1042, AM806) – The fire moved through the Bluestem Pack den area on Friday June 3rd, and was spotty and burned with a low intensity in the immediate area of the den. GPS locations through June 5th indicate that the AF1042 has remained in the den area since the fire moved through. Both adults were located in the den area on the 6-13-11 wolf telemetry flight. The adults continuing to utilize the den area may be an indication that the pups survived the fire. Previous efforts documented a minimum of 3 pups with this pack.

3. The Hawks Nest Pack (AF1110, f1208) ­ The fire moved through this area on Saturday, June 4th and was spotty and burned with a low intensity in the immediate area of the den. Ground tracking conducted in the area on June 5th indicated that the adults remained in the area following the fire. The Hawks Nest Pack adults were located in the den area on the 6-3-11 wolf telemetry flight. The adults continuing to utilize the den area may be an indication that the pups survived the fire. This pack does not have a GPS collar and thus tracking is dependent on either aerial or ground tracking of VHF collars. Previous efforts documented a minimum of 5 pups with this pack.

Three additional packs that appear to be denning retain the potential to be affected by the fire:

1. Paradise Pack (AF1056) – This pack is denned approximately 5.5 miles northwest of the northwestern edge of the Wallow Fire. The pack has a minimum of 5 pups.

2. Fox Mountain (AF1188, AM1158) – The Fox Mountain Pack appears to be exhibiting denning behavior, although documentation of pups has yet to occur. This pack is thought to be denned approximately 2 miles east of the eastern edge of the Wallow Fire. The exact location of the den has yet to be determined.

3. M1183 on White Mountain Apache Tribe – M1183 appears to be exhibiting denning behavior, although documentation of pups has yet to occur. This pack is thought to be denned approximately 4.5 miles west of the southwestern edge of the Wallow Fire. The exact location of the den has yet to be determined.

Four additional packs appear to be denning and are not likely to be affected by this fire:

1. San Mateo Pack (AF903, AM1157, f1212) – Denning behavior has been confirmed in the San Mateo Pack and a minimum of 5 pups have been documented.

2. Dark Canyon Pack (AF923, AM992) – The Dark Canyon Pack is exhibiting denning behavior, although documentation of pups has yet to occur.

3. Middle Fork Pack (AF861, AM871, F1211) – The Middle Fork Pack is exhibiting denning behavior, although documentation of pups has yet to occur.

4. Luna Pack (AF1115, AM1156) – The Luna Pack is exhibiting denning behavior, although documentation of pups has yet to occur.