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Published: February 19th 2012
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Dave and Ron
Out for a daily walk
If anyone actually reads the location stuff - it says we are in New York!!! For some reason, perhaps operator error, I'm not able to change it to New Mexico - but we are still here.
We finally saw the Mexican Grey Wolves - up close and personal.
In 1980 these wolves, the smallest and most southern species, were almost extinct in the wild with only 5 left living free. These 5 were eventually captured with cooperation between Mexico and the US with the intent of beginning a captive breeding program. The goal is to reintroduce the wolves in areas of their former range. Sevilleta is one of the locations involved in the program. As you can imagine, this program is controverisal - especailly with ranchers.
We were part of a wolf capture yesterday which means we were part of a team of people who went into the wolf pens to secure and crate 7 of 23 wolves that are at Sevilleta. The wolves are kept in 1 - 3 acre enclosures in a canyon on the refuge. The wolves have minimum human contact to help with their eventual release back
the wolf canyon
Approaching the wolf enclosures into the wild. The capture was well organized by the folks in charge who try to minimize the trauma to the wolves. The first step was for the team to enter the wolf pen in a line with each person carrying a capture net or noose pole - not to use, but to look more imposing. Then the line moved together across the pen pushing the wolves back toward their den boxes. The wolves not being treated were allowed to break through the line ;the others continued to be 'pushed' as we moved forward. Eventually the wolves to decided to hole up in their den boxes and were locked inside. Only the Alpha male seemed to have second thoughts about cooperating, but eventually he holed up too.
Once they are in the den box - which has a top and sides that open - the veterinarians take over and muzzle and blindfold the animal. After treatment the wolf is lifted and placed in a crate. Except for walking the line and pushing the wolves we were gophers for the trained folks in charge. I got to hold the crate for one capture and Ron helped with putting
one in his crate . It was really such a unique experience and we were so glad to be included, even though it meant getting up at 5:45 on a Saturday.
We have spent a lot of time on 2 work projects this week. We are getting ready to take part in the Xeri Scape Fair at the Albuquerque Convention Center on the 25th. This has to do with landscaping with minimum use of water. I'm not really sure how we fit into this program, but we are taking the big exhibition trailer to the convention center with lots of give aways for the kids and cool looking skulls and animal hides to show them. Again, I'm not sure what this has to do with landscape, but it should be fun.
Also Sevilleta is running a YCC (Youth Conservation Corp) program this summer and we have been doing the leg work going to high schools in the area to recruit applicants . Now we are going to local college campuses and recruiting the crew leader who will be in charge of the 15-18 year olds.
Things are getting easier in the
visitors center when we have to 'work the desk'. We can now wave our hand in a westerly direction and say that is Strawberry Peak and next to it is Socorro Peak and then the Ladrones ,and then wave vaguely to the east and say those are the Sandias, then the Manzanos and then the Los Pinos (which does not mean pineapple). No more tours until March.
We have been touring the area and also the refuge. This is a 4 day weekend for us and Jeannine signed out a refuge vehicle to us and said go explore - so that is what we are doing. The refuge is 35 miles from east to west and 14 miles north to south, so I'm not sure how much we can see, but we'll do our best. Lots of pictures will tell that story.
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Richard
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Wolf
Enjoying your blogs Tam, keep em' coming. If I can find your email, I'm going to send you a picture of what I thought were wolfs at Organ Pipe Cactus. Now that you're an expert, I'm sure you can give a "Thumbs up, or down" on an ID. Not a bad gig you got going there, 4 day paid vacation to boot.