“I have wanted to work with wildlife since I was 16 years old. This is truly something I love, and I can’t wait until the day I can lead my own research on these awe-inspiring organisms.” - Barnes
Somewhere between the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, 24-hour trail cameras overlook red rock buttes, grassy meadows and sources of water. These cameras, owned by state and federal wildlife agencies, capture coyotes, black bears, vultures; all the species that uniquely exist together in the Gila Wilderness.
But that’s not what our wildlife technicians are looking for. Defenders of Wildlife’s sponsored techs are looking for Mexican gray wolves as part of interagency field work to reduce livestock losses and continuing recovery activities.
“Every time I check a trail camera; it’s a near guarantee that most of my photos won’t be of wolves,” Ari Sullivan wrote in her August journal entry for the Mexican wolf program. “Seeing all these creatures on camera, it’s impossible not to consider the interconnectedness of every living creature and abiotic factor of the landscape. Our focus is on the wolves, but their lives are knitted inextricably into lives of other populations.”
Catching a glimpse of a Mexican gray wolf in the wild is a rare and tricky feat, whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or a professional in the field. Conservation, after all, is a game of patience—of waiting.
Good things come to those who wait. By fall, the spring-born pups have matured, testing their abilities under the watchful eye of dedicated wildlife technicians.
“For the last couple months, I’ve only gotten to see the puppies on our camera if they are brought to the food caches by mom and dad,” Jessica Ridge said. “It’s such an incredible experience to see the pups go from small potato-sized animals, all the way to annoying each other in front of our cameras.”
Out in the field, the days and months blur. Every day, wildlife technicians in the wilderness track elusive signs like ghost tracks and scat during uncollared sign searches, monitoring trail cameras and checking in on growing pups.
“With the repetition, I’ve noticed how I’ve improved my skills in the field. I’m able to see signs more clearly when I’m walking into wolf packs, whether it’s tracks, scat, or any other clue a wolf might leave behind,” Ridge reported.
As they continue their work, their biology field skills sharpen, and they become increasingly adept at trapping and monitoring livestock pastures.
These three technicians observed notable improvement in conflict reduction since joining the field team at the beginning of the year. While surveying the various pastures, the techs have reported back how a positive presence and proactive strategies have helped mitigate potential conflicts.
“By tracking these patterns, they’ve been able to anticipate the wolves' behavior and prevent conflicts more effectively.” Cameron Barnes wrote, “Packs that were historically a nuisance haven’t caused much conflict, and any issues we’ve had, we were able to curtail quite quickly. It is really exciting to see all your hard work pay off, knowing that it’s making a difference. At the end of the day, this plays an important role in the future survival of the species for decades to come.”
"Hopefully, if this continues, public support for the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf will grow stronger,” Barnes adds. “At the end of the day, this hard work is crucial for the survival of the species for generations to come.” Tune in for next month’s blog that highlights the annual Mexican gray wolf count leading up to a federal review of the species recovery.
The wildlife technicians are sponsored through a collaborative effort with Defenders of Wildlife, Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which is designed for college students and recent graduates pursuing careers in conservation. The program allows hands-on experience and provides vital field support to the Interagency Field Team helping to increase wolf monitoring, security, conflict-prevention and survival.
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