By KRWG News
New Mexico – Federal authorities are now investigating the deaths of two endangered Mexican gray wolves, one in eastern Arizona and one in southern New Mexico.
Both wolves were alpha males, dominant males in a pack.
The Arizona male was found shot to death on June 18. U.S. Fish and Wildlike officials say he was part of the Hawks Nest Pack that uses the area east of Big Lake on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest as a breeding ground.
The wolf found dead on June 24 in New Mexico was part of the San Mateo Pack. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Charna Lefton tells the Arizona Daily Star that the agency doesn't yet know if he too was shot.
A third alpha male wolf has been missing since mid-April. It belonged to the Paradise Pack roaming eastern Arizona's Fort Apache Reservation.
___
Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.