Endangered Wolf Whose Mate Was Shot Gives Birth

The mate of a Mexican gray wolf that was shot by a camper last week has given birth to pups, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said Wednesday.

“I do not know the size of the litter,” said agency spokesman Tom Bauer. “We heard sounds from her den. Good sounds. Sounds of additional creatures in there.” He said officials think the pups were born Monday night.

The 5-year-old female was captured and taken to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro on Friday night after her mate was shot by a camper Tuesday. The pair were among 11 Mexican gray wolves released into the Arizona wild earlier this year, the first of the wolves relocated since being placed on the endangered species list more than two decades ago.

The female was captured because wildlife officials were worried that it would give birth in the wild and have to feed its young without help from a male.

A man camping with his family shot the male last week after he said the wolf attacked his dog. Agents are conducting a criminal investigation of the shooting.