Contributed Article/Courtesy AZGFD
PHOENIX — Over the last month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has received several calls and viewed social media posts regarding Mexican wolf and livestock interactions in southeastern Arizona. The focus has been suspected Mexican wolf depredations on livestock.
The department’s first contact occurred on Jan. 14, 2025, when a suspected Mexican wolf depredation was reported to the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, the agency responsible for investigating suspected Mexican wolf depredations. Upon investigation, that agency recommended that the cause of death was a confirmed Mexican wolf depredation. The investigation was conducted on Jan. 15.
Given this finding, AZGFD deployed the agency’s range rider staff to the area to haze wolves from the area occupied by livestock. In total, the riders spent nine days hazing wolves from livestock and searching surrounding areas for signs of Mexican wolf presence. In addition, field staff coordinated with the livestock owner on follow-up hazing and how to interact with the Arizona Livestock Loss Board to seek compensation for the value of the animal depredated upon. AZGFD also communicated with both Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and the leadership of the Cochise-Graham County Livestock Organization to ensure effective communication on this issue.
On Feb. 4, Wildlife Services was advised of another possible Mexican wolf depredation, reported to include five cows. On investigation, there were seven animals found dead, six in a localized area and one that was approximately a mile away from the six. Subsequent to the initial investigation, another animal was found dead. The one animal that was away from the group was recommended by Wildlife Services as a confirmed Mexican wolf depredation. However, inspection of the remaining animals showed no signs of being killed by wolves.
AZGFD communicated with the owner of the livestock as well as with Sheriff Dannels and the Cochise-Graham Cattle Growers organization to ensure that lines of communication were open and questions answered. This dialog continues with the livestock owner, the County Sheriff and the Cattle Growers leadership. Also, AZGFD deployed the range rider crew to deter additional depredations, and the staff spent four days in the field and remains on call as conditions dictate.
Both Wildlife Services and the Arizona Game and Fish Department continue to determine the best course of action to reduce the potential for additional depredations. However, at this time, the available evidence indicates that of the livestock found dead in this area, two were killed by Mexican wolves. Inspections of the remaining dead animals concluded that the animals were not the result of Mexican wolf depredations.
Jim deVos, the AZGFD Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, is committed to working with all concerned regarding the Mexican wolves in southeastern Arizona to communicate facts on the issue and to work with the Arizona Livestock Loss Board to provide economic compensation for Mexican wolf depredations. He can be reached at jdevos@azgfd.gov.
