The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) announced in the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program Quarterly Update that eight endangered Mexican gray wolves were found dead in Arizona and New Mexico in the first quarter of 2021. The incidents are under investigation.

One of the wolves, the breeding male of the Elk Horn pack, died after being captured by the Interagency Field Team during their annual winter count. An additional wolf was removed at the request of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

The first quarter updates, sorted by region and wolf pack:

Background

The Mexican gray wolf is one of the most endangered mammals in North America. With just a single population in the United States numbering 186 wolves, numerous threats, including widespread illegal killing and genetic decline, menace the fragile population.