Pregnant Mexican wolf freed with mate in Arizona

A pregnant Mexican wolf has been released into the wild with her mate in an effort to grow the population, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.

The pair were taken to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Wednesday and will be held in an enclosure until they "self-release" by chewing through the fencing, a statement said. Supplemental food will be provided as they get used to hunting their own prey.

The Rim Pack female, known as F1305, was captured in the wild in January, after her mate disappeared, to breed with a more genetically diverse male born in captivity at the California Wolf Center in 2008, known as M1130.

Biologists observed the pair breeding and believe the female is pregnant. The pair were released near the female's old territory.

Officials hope the wolves will make the area their home, said Mike Rabe, non-game wildlife branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. A number of factors should help, including releasing the pair into the enclosure in territory the female should recognize.

"If you just put them in a box and take them off a pickup truck and open the door ... they're going to run like heck," Rabe said. "They're disoriented and their first impulse is to just get away from you."

By leaving them in a pen that they eventually can chew out of, the wolves will calm down and be more likely to stay together and explore their surroundings, he said.

The wolf population is poised to make a comeback, Rabe said. The population recently reached a milestone of more than 100 in the southwest.

"I'm very optimistic about the future," he said.

The pair were held at the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico until they were ready for release.

"Improving the genetics of the wild Mexican wolf population continues to be our priority," said Benjamin Tuggle, Southwest regional director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, in a written statement. "Together this pair will improve the genetic profile of the current Mexican wolf population, ensuring long-term viability. The female, F1305, has experience living in the wild increasing the success rate for the pair's survival."

A 2014 survey found a minimum of 109 Mexican wolves in the wild, up from 83 the previous year.

Other agencies participating in the effort include the White Mountain Apache Tribe, U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, several Arizona counties and the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization.