Wildlife officials said a Mexican gray wolf has died in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. Arizona Game and Fish officials said a field team was trying to fit radio-telemetry collars on some wolves last weekend. One female yearling was caught in a padded foot trap, and the animal moved into rocky terrain on the edge of a slope. By the time crews could get to the wolf, she was no longer breathing and could not be revived.
Authorities said this is only the third time they have had a capture-related death in the 15-year history of the Mexican wolf reintroduction project in Arizona and New Mexico. The Mexican gray wolf was added to the federal endangered species list in 1976.
The federal government recently announced Arizona, New Mexico and other states would share $850,000 to help reduce conflicts between the wolves and livestock.