In this Jan. 30, 2020 image provided by Zach Bryan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Maggie Dwire carries a Mexican gray wolf from a helicopter after it was captured near Reserve, New Mexico, during an annual survey of the endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday, March 18 announced the result of a latest survey, saying there are at least 163 wolves in the wild in New Mexico and Arizona. That marks a nearly 25% jump in the population from the previous year. (Zach Bryan via AP)
SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press
THE EDGE OF THE GILA WILDERNESS, N.M. (AP) — A voice interrupted the crackle of the radio at basecamp: "Starting pursuit."
The rest of the team on the ground was anxious to hear those words after the low-flying helicopter crew had been working all morning to get close to one of the Mexican gray wolves that had been targeted as part of an annual survey of the endangered predators.
For months, crews combed the rugged mountains of the southwestern United States, tracking collared wolves and looking for evidence of new packs to build the most accurate picture possible of just how many wolves are roaming the wild in New Mexico and Arizona.
The results of the painstaking effort were finally released Wednesday, revealing there are more wolves in the wi
