Wolves Spotted On Private Land
	Compliments of April 2000

By The Daily Press Staff

Three wolves from the first pack to be relocated in the Gila Wilderness have entered private land near Gila, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The wolves -- the alpha male and two yearlings from the Mule Pack -- were initially released in Arizona's Blue Range last year before their subsequent recapture and rerelease into the Gila last month.

Located by signals from radio collars during a FWS flyover Thursday, the wolves were reportedly on the Double E Ranch along Bear Creek.

Wendy Brown of the Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery team called the ranch headquarters Thursday night to advise the landowners the wolves had been tracked to their property.

Debbie Eggleston called the Daily Press from the ranch this morning to say she is especially concerned because it is calving season.

There are about 250 cows on the ranch.

She also said the bighorn sheep are lambing this time of year and questioned the wisdom of spending money on reintroducing bighorns while trying to re-establish wolves in the Gila Wilderness.

Deer and other wildlife at the ranch "have gone almost hysterical," she said, adding that she has requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service remove the wolves.

"The dogs are barking all the time," she said.

Eggleston said riders have been sent on horseback to check on cattle "but other than that, we can't do anything."

Planes flew over the ranch all day Thursday, Eggleston said, trying to determine if the wolves have moved or if they're localized on the ranch.

Tom Bauer of the FWS office in Albuquerque said the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan makes provisions for wolves entering private land where they aren't wanted by landowners.

"We've contacted the landowner and were given permission to enter private land to look for the wolves," Bauer said this morning.

He added that a crew has been dispatched "to find the wolves and haze them back into the wilderness."

If that cannot be accomplished, Bauer said, the wolves will be trapped and relocated.

Later this morning the pack was reportedly on private land about 10 miles west of Silver City in the area of Hell's Half Acre, according to Ron Henderson.

Henderson is the Grant County representative on the Mexican Gray Wolf Advisory Committee.

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