Lesson 10:Saving the Mexican Wolves

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The White Mountain Apache—Friends of the WolfOne group that has played an important role in the lobos’recovery is the White Mountain Apache tribe in Arizona. Theirreservation is next to the national forest where the wolves werefirst released. Before the settlers came, wolves and the Apachecoexisted. Many traditional Apache stories and songs tell of theimportance of animals such as the wolf.When the Mexican wolf was first reintroduced, the WhiteMountain Apache tribal council had to make some decisions.What should happen to reintroduced wolves that wandered ontothe reservation? Should the wolves be removed? Or, should theybe allowed to form packs on tribal land?Like other ranchers, Apache ranchers were concerned thatthe wolves would kill their cattle. Apache hunting guides worriedthat their clients would have to compete with the wolvesfor deer and elk. Yet along with the needs of its people, the tribeconsidered the needs of the wolves.The WhiteMountain Apachetribe now lives onthe Fort ApacheReservation insoutheasternArizona.15
The tribal council signed an agreement to let reintroducedMexican wolves roam on reservation land. This agreement hashelped the recovery effort in important ways. It allowed thewolves’ habitat to expand as their population grew. Wolves thatwere born in the wild have formed new packs that live onreservation land. The tribe also allowed a captive-bred pair ofwolves to be released on reservation land. Now this pair’s wildbornpups are grown and have pups of their own.A tribal wolf biologist monitors the wolves using radiocollars and other means. She also works with ranchers andguides to try to prevent wolf attacks on livestock. She talks toschoolchildren about the Mexican wolf’s return.The White Mountain Apache tribe has joined with theother agencies to oversee the lobo’s recovery. Both conservationgroups and the government have praised the tribe for their rolein reintroducing the Mexican wolf. Many see the WhiteMountain Apache as a role model for helping to reintroduceendangered species back into the wild.16
Page 2 and 3: Saving theMexican Wolvesby Sasha Gr
Page 4 and 5: Did you know? Wolves can run upto 3
Page 6 and 7: Mexican wolves once roamed througho
Page 8 and 9: The Clash of Wolves and PeopleThe M
Page 10 and 11: The government officially supported
Page 12 and 13: The Wolves Make a ComebackOne of th
Page 14 and 15: The group also had to find just the
Page 18 and 19: A mother wolf protects her cubs and
Page 20 and 21: RespondingTARGET SKILL Main Ideas a
Page 22: Level: VDRA: 50Genre:Informational

Lesson 10:Saving the Mexican Wolves

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