Middle Gila • Entered by Roz Switzer on September 4, 2020
Wolf and Grazing Observation In the White Mountains
July 13, 2020 – July 22, 2020
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | |
| Activity Hours | 40 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 40 |
Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: Western Watersheds Project
Landscape/area: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (AZ) (2626306 acres)
Short Description of Activity
Monitored cattle grazing, USFWS, Forest Service, livestock owner and wolf activity in several of the forest grazing allotments to determine if one of the Mexican gray wolf packs was targeted for hazing, trapping or removal. Reported observations to partner organization as able over a week and a half in the field.
Reflection/Evaluation
This was fortuitous. I by chance ended up camping right where the cattle, wolves, rancher and USFWS activity was happening and had picked up and responded to an e-mail from a partner organization looking for eyes on the ground after setting up camp. Observation highlights include fladry collared cattle (An experiment in progress), USFWS tracking pack activity, the livestock owners sporadic appearances and the minimal measures to protect and monitor his cattle, the destroyed habitat from overgrazing, seeking safety from an unhappy bull and best of all, watching two wolves one evening. This was fascinating and fulfilling. I love being outside with a purpose.