Defenders Statement on Investigation into the Death of a Mexican Gray Wolf

State and federal wildlife officials are offering a more than $100,000 reward in the death of a Mexican gray wolf found near a Forest Service road outside of Flagstaff on November 7. The wolf, F2979, was the first Mexican gray wolf documented outside of the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area. Below is Defenders of Wildlife Southwest Program Director Bryan Bird’s statement.  

“This wolf did not need to die, and every senseless death is a huge blow to the species’ recovery,” Bird said. “There’s at least one more wolf roaming north of I-40 toward what’s considered the best available habitat for these wolves — and others will return. Wildlife managers must prepare and support local communities to make necessary adjustments to ensure the survival of these wolves. Mexican gray wolves are incredibly resilient; all that’s really needed for their recovery is that we not kill them.”