FLAGSTAFF, Arizona — A federally protected female Mexican wolf has been discovered dead in an area near Flagstaff, raising serious concerns among environmental advocates who suspect foul play.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the Arizona Game and Fish Department announced on Friday that the wolf, identified as Mexican wolf F2979 by biologists, was found deceased on November 7. The discovery was made outside the designated boundaries along the Arizona-New Mexico border, which are specifically managed to protect this critically endangered subspecies of gray wolf.

While officials have not disclosed the exact cause of death, they confirmed it was “not related to agency management actions.” In response to the incident, a reward of up to $103,500 has been offered by various state and federal agencies, as well as private individuals and organizations, for information that could lead to a successful prosecution regarding the circumstances surrounding the wolf’s death.

Cyndi Tuell, the director of the Western Watersheds Project for Arizona and New Mexico, expressed that if the wolf was indeed killed intentionally, then “the full weight of the federal and state law should be brought to bear” on those responsible.

Under the Endangered Species Act, the Mexican gray wolf is afforded legal protection, and anyone found guilty of killing one could face significant penalties. This includes criminal fines of up to $50,000, possible imprisonment for up to one year, and the forfeiture of firearms, vehicles, and structures linked to the offense, in addition to potential civil penalties that can reach $25,000.

According to the joint statement, this particular female wolf was initially documented outside the officially recognized “Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area” near Flagstaff during the early summer of 2024.

She was captured, equipped with a GPS collar, and subsequently released back into her natural habitat in July. Genetic testing indicated that she had departed from her pack, known as the Tu Dil Hil pack, within the designated area and was traveling alone with another wolf.

The authorities have been actively working to recapture the two wolves and return them to the designated area; however, the location of the other wolf remains unknown.

Federal regulations stipulate that the Fish and Wildlife Service must remove any Mexican wolves found north of Interstate 40, regardless of whether the animal poses any issues. Local ranchers in New Mexico and Arizona have consistently voiced their concerns, arguing that wolves are responsible for numerous livestock fatalities each year and are apprehensive about any expansion of their territory.

Having been reintroduced into the Southwestern United States approximately 25 years ago, the Mexican gray wolf population has seen a gradual increase in the past few years, now numbering over 250 in Arizona and New Mexico.