The Arizona Game and Fish Department has received reports of two more elk killed by wolves in the Nutrioso area, one by Nutrioso Reservoir and the other in Dry Valley, according to Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) officials.
Both of the elk carcasses were removed by AZGFD wolf biologists to eliminate any further attractant.
In March, AGFD received a call that wolves had killed an elk in Dry Valley in Nutrioso. An AGFD wolf biologist responded to the area and confirmed the Hoodoo pack had killed an elk in the area approximately 100 yards from the nearest residence in the early morning hours of March 20. It was the second confirmed elk kill in March, by the Hoodoo pack.
AGFD official, John Greer, reported that the Department will be “resuming hazing efforts of any wolves in the Nutrioso area and will be focusing hazing efforts during nighttime hours.” The management action in this situation is “due to the wolves’ repeated use of areas in close proximity to homes. It is important to note that the wolves are not remaining in the community during the day and on the few occasions when encountered by people, the wolves have run away.”
Greer reports that there “have been no reports of wolves interacting with pets or the livestock in the area. There have been a total of 5 elk killed by wolves in the Nutrioso area and 1 elk killed in the Chapache housing area in Alpine so far this year.”