Federal and state wildlife managers confirmed Thursday that the endangered female wolf has traveled north of Interstate 40 and beyond a recovery zone that spans parts of southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. Both state and federal wildlife managers said they were monitoring the wolf’s movements and have yet to decide whether it will be captured again and relocated. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove all Mexican wolves north of Interstate 40, even in cases where the wolf causes no inconvenience or loss. Fish and Wildlife Service show there were at least 241 Mexican wolves roaming the southwestern U.S., marking the seventh straight year that the numbers have trended upward. Federal wildlife managers also documented more breeding pairs and pups last winter than in any year since reintroduction efforts began more than two decades ago.

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Persons: Bryan Bird, ”, Loren Patterson Organizations: Federal, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Southwest, of Wildlife, Rockies, New Mexico Cattle Growers ’ Association Locations: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M, Northern New Mexico, North America, New Mexico, Arizona, Albuquerque, Jemez Springs, Rocky, Taos , New Mexico, Colorado, Canada, Sierra of Mexico, U.S, Federal