Finally saw a wolf

Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

The Mexican Grey Wolf has been reintroduced throughout The Blue and Alpine areas in eastern Arizona about six years ago. The packs have been slowly increasing in both population and range. I have heard 'em around Alpine, seen both sign and an elk cow kill on the property, and last evening, saw one in the flesh at the edge of the meadow just in the trees. This would be about forty feet from the house. What a treat! It was twilight and I could not tell the gender but from the size, I'm going to guess it was a male. He or she skedaddled into the woods before I could get either my field glasses or a camera.

I was tipped-off by my the maniacal barking of my idiot dog, another equally territorial canine, who wanted nothing more than to chase the wolf off.

The whole reintroduction program http://www.fws.gov/ifw2es/mexicanwolf/ is not without controversy and everybody around here has an opinion, pro or con, about wolves. Still, to actually spot one, is rare and from my perspective, really exciting.

-Nealz

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

Very cool!
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kurthzone · Posted: 5/10/2006, 12:35 pm Post subject:

Hey Neal How are you?

My daughters and I saw one just east of Sheeps Crossing almost three years ago to the day. It was very pretty and seemed to me to have a thicker coat than in pictures that I've seen. Maybe that's because when I first got a glimpse of it I thought it was a coyote. Only took an instant to dispell that thought though.
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mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

I heard a pack howling during the night when we were camping at Terry Flat a few years ago. It would be very cool to see one!
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Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

maryphyl · Posted: 5/10/2006, 4:13 pm Post subject:

LMAO--nice to see you Neal--Mary
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Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Very very cool. Have you heard of a grizzly bear in the area as well ?

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I saw my first wolf backpacking the Cabin Loop trail on the rim a few years ago. It was a very exciting moment for me. I watched him run up a hill and slowly walk the ridgeline while he kept his eyes on us. He blended in so well, if I hadn't seen him move, I might have missed him altogether. Nature can be so awesome! Mary
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MikeInFHAZ · Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 1401 Location: location location

wow mary, maybe i saw the same wolf, on the cabin trail about 1 mile down H.B. from Pinchot cabin. wonderful creature indeed.
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Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

That is so cool, I think you are right Mike! Mary
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CatValet · Posted: 5/10/2006, 10:41 pm Post subject:

Nighthiker: Have heard of a remnant griz population in the South San Juans, but nothing in the eastern AZ or Gila NM areas. Doubt there are any left in the Sierra Madre either.

azbackpackr · Posted: 5/11/2006, 5:36 am Post subject:

I read a book about that remnant griz population. The Lost Grizzlies, by Rick Bass.

I talked to Game and Fish one time about the wolves, their management headaches. I said to them, "Well, now you've got the wolves almost established, how about a grizzly bear?" One of the guys answered, "They start talking about grizzly bears, that's when I'm going to retire from this job!"

Have you read A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold? It is considered one of the basic books of the environmental movement, originally published in 1966. You can usually find a whole stack of used copies at Bookman's. There is an essay in that book about the last grizzly bear in Arizona, Old Bigfoot, which lived on Escudilla Mountain. Worth reading.

Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

Sande J · Posted: 5/11/2006, 5:11 pm Post subject:

That is cool Nealz Wink

....nice that you are enjoying the benefits of your place out there. Razz

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Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Don't think it was a resident but a visitor from NM.