Chasing the Wild: Searching for Mexican Gray Wolves in Arizona
By Alan Lacy
The drive from Phoenix to the White Mountains of Arizona takes about four and a half hours, but the shift in scenery is nothing short of dramatic. Leaving behind the desert heat, I found myself climbing in elevation, where the air was cooler, the trees towered above, and the rolling green meadows were nourished by the summer monsoons. This time of year, the landscape is alive with storms—thunder crashing, rain pouring, and the scent of wet earth filling the air. It was the perfect setting for another search for the elusive Mexican gray wolf.
The Journey into Wolf Country
My destination was a remote camping area deep in the mountains, where I planned to meet my friend and fellow photographer, Hector Morales from Wild Framez. We first crossed paths in Yellowstone, drawn together by our shared passion for wolves. Now, we were hoping to glimpse one of the rarest canids in North America, the Mexican gray wolf, which has been slowly making a comeback in these rugged landscapes.
The night I arrived, rain poured relentlessly. I set up my tent in a rush, hoping to stay dry before the next downpour. The sound of raindrops against the fabric of my tent was a soothing lullaby, and I drifted off to sleep, eager for what the next day would bring.
A Promising Sign
Morning came late for us as the rain persisted through the early hours. When it finally let up, Hector and I packed our gear and set out toward an area where I had seen wolves before. The search for these animals is never easy—their home range spans twice the size of Yellowstone, and their population is small. But as we arrived in a valley, we spotted something that sent a surge of excitement through us: vultures. Dozens of them.
Vultures are nature’s cleanup crew, and their presence often signals a fresh kill. We quickly returned to the truck, grabbed our cameras, and moved cautiously toward the site, hoping to find evidence of a wolf kill—or, if we were lucky, a wolf itself.
The Kill Site
As we approached, a coyote darted from the area, and the vultures scattered into the trees. This was another good sign—scavengers wouldn’t be here unless there was something worth scavenging. We took our time, moving quietly and scanning the surroundings for any sign of wolves. When we finally found the carcass, there wasn’t much left of it. It had been picked clean, leaving behind only scattered bones and tufts of fur. Still, we knew this was a prime location, so we set up a blind about a hundred yards away and settled in for the long wait.
The Waiting Game
Wildlife photography and filmmaking require patience. Sometimes, you sit for hours without so much as a rustling in the bushes. As the afternoon stretched on, the only visitors were a few ravens, a kestrel, and a chipmunk. A coyote made a brief appearance, but no wolves. Meanwhile, storm clouds gathered in the distance, thunder rolling across the mountains.
By evening, with no sign of wolves and a storm fast approaching, we decided to pack up and head back to camp. Disappointed? Maybe a little. But that’s how it goes in the wild—there are no guarantees, only the thrill of the search.
A Mountain Lion Surprise
Back at camp, we received an exciting update: the Saffel Pack of Mexican gray wolves had been spotted nearby, just a half-mile from our tents. As we grabbed our gear and quietly made our way toward the reported location, something moving through the trees caught Hector’s eye. Neither of us could believe it—a mountain lion.
For a fleeting moment, we watched in awe as the big cat moved gracefully through the canyon before disappearing into the forest. And, of course, neither of us had our cameras ready.
A New Discovery
The next morning, we set out again, determined to track down the wolves. While hiking through a narrow canyon, we stumbled upon a site that stopped us in our tracks—several freshly dug beds in the dirt. Wolf beds.
Mexican gray wolves, like their northern relatives, dig out beds to rest in during the heat of the day, scraping away the warm topsoil to reach the cool earth beneath. The beds we found were fresh, likely used just the night before. Scattered among them, we found tufts of fur—thick, coarse, and unmistakably wolf.
Realizing we were in an active wolf rendezvous site, we carefully backed out, not wanting to disturb the pack. Though we hadn’t yet seen them, we knew they were close. Sometimes, the signs of their presence are just as powerful as a sighting itself.
The Call of the Wild
Even without laying eyes on a wolf, this trip was a success. The thrill of the search, the evidence of their presence, and the knowledge that these magnificent animals are reclaiming their rightful place in the wild make every moment worthwhile. The White Mountains have a way of capturing your heart, and maybe, just maybe, it’s because of the wolves.
As always, nature rewards those who are patient. Next time, we just might get lucky.
If you enjoyed this adventure, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Filming The Wild, for more behind-the-scenes content on wildlife filmmaking.
