Endangered wolf found dead after wandering near Mount Taylor
Apr. 1—An endangered Mexican gray wolf that wandered outside the wolf recovery area was found dead Sunday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed, and the cause of death is under investigation.
The female wolf, F2996, had wandered north of Interstate 40 outside the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area and been located near Mount Taylor in New Mexico after escaping a crate near Show Low, Arizona, during the annual wolf population count. On Friday, Fish and Wildlife announced that it would not try to relocate the wolf, which had wandered broadly through Arizona and New Mexico. The agency was monitoring the wolf's movements to see if she returned to her pack.
The decision was celebrated by environmental advocacy groups, which have pushed for the species to be allowed to expand their territory.
"Mexican wolves like Ella have shown time and again that the wildlands north of Interstate 40 are desirable wolf habitat," said Taylor McKinnon, Southwest director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Ella is the name advocacy groups use for F2996. "Her death is a tragedy and its cause and circumstances need to be investigated and shared with the public."
The endangered wolf population has slowly increased after years of recovery efforts, going up 11% in the 2025 wolf count, and at least 286 wolves live in New Mexico and Arizona.
The last wild Mexican wolf death was reported in November, when a female wolf, F2979, was found dead northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona. That wolf was also outside the experimental population area, although wildlife agencies were trying to capture and relocate her, along with the wolf she was traveling with.
In 2023, U.S. Fish and Wildlife reported 31 Mexican wolf deaths in Arizona and New Mexico. Of those, 11 died from illegal shooting or trapping, nine had natural deaths, four died from vehicle collisions, four died from capture-related mortalities or legal shootings or trappings, and three died from unknown causes.
Mexican gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Killing or harming an endangered species can result in a hefty fine or jail time. A reward of up to $105,000 from conservationists and agencies is available for information that leads to the conviction of anyone who violates the Endangered Species Act and unlawfully kills a Mexican wolf.
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