Mexican Wolf Project Support

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Modification to add $10,000 in additional funding to cover ongoing activities below. History: Efforts to reintroduce Mexican wolves into Arizona and New Mexico have been ongoing since 1998. Key wolf habitat exists in remote areas only accessible by foot or on horseback. It is often necessary to access this habitat for release or management purposes. In order for the MWRP to get pen materials, equipment, wolves, and supplemental feed into these areas, someone with very good mule/horsepacking skills is needed, as well as the appropriately trained hoof stock. The MWRP does not have the experienced staff or hoof stock to accomplish this task without Nick Smith’s assistance.The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program (MWRP) requires horseback assistance with the release of wolves and other management activities associated with the reintroduced population of Mexican wolves. Efforts to reintroduce Mexican wolves into Arizona and New Mexico have been ongoing since 1998. Key wolf habitat exists in remote areas only accessible by foot or on horseback. It is often necessary to access this habitat for release or management purposes. In order for the MWRP to get pen materials, equipment, wolves, and supplemental feed into these areas, someone with very good mule/horsepacking skills is needed, as well as the appropriately trained hoof stock. The MWRP does not have the experienced staff or hoof stock to accomplish this task without Nick Smith’s assistance.Nick Smith is a skilled mule and horsepacker with over 20 years of experience doing this type of work and has the hoof stock to do so. Mr. Smith, while working for New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), has been the primary person to assist the MWRP with this type of transfer of wolves and pen construction. Mr. Smith recently retired from the NMDGF. He knows the wilderness areas well and would be an asset to those persons on the staff that are not as familiar to the area. Mr. Smith is familiar with the MWRP, is considered an expert in the field of wolf handling and trapping, and is covered by existing MWRP permits for such activities. Mr. Smith owns appropriately trained hoof stock, he is local and available to do the work, and has the expertise to assist this effort.Therefore, Nick Smith is contracted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Mexican Wolf Recovery Program (MWRP) to provide the assistance and mule services necessary to carry out various wolf related management activities associated with the MWRP. Such activities include: the construction of release pens; packing of wolves and materials on horseback; wolf release; and wolf trapping and handling (including radio collaring and processing).

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