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Report: Mexican gray wolf Asha.Asha, a Mexican gray wolf also identified as F2754, runs around her pen with her mate at the Sevilleta Mexican Wolf Management Facility outside Socorro in 2024.The mate of Asha, a well-known Mexican gray wolf who has roamed throughout New Mexico, was found dead in March, according to a quarterly report on the endangered species program.M1966, nicknamed Arcadia, was a captive-born wolf — making him genetically valuable, as the captive population of wolves is more genetically diverse than the wild population.Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately respond to questions about M1966's death, but previously told The New Mexican that Asha had whelped another litter of puppies this spring.The report gives little insight into where or how M1966 died.Mexican gray wolves typically breed in February and have litters in May.Asha was born into a wolf pack in Arizona in 2021.She roamed across the Southwest, twice crossing Interstate 40, the upper barrier of the Mexican wolf experimental population area.In 2023, Asha was captured near Coyote, west of Abiquiú, and brought to the Sevilleta Mexican Wolf Management Facility, where she mated with Arcadia and gave birth to her first litter of pups last year.The pack, named the Quartz Pack by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, was released at Ted Turner's Ladder Ranch in August.Between 1998 and 2024, 314 wolf deaths have been documented by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.While many deaths were natural or had unknown causes, about half of the documented deaths were illegal killings, and roughly 15% were related to vehicle collisions.Seventeen Mexican gray wolves have been found dead this year, according to the quarterly report, including 11 in New Mexico.The causes of death will be included in the 2026 annual program report.The deaths include M3065, another boundary-crossing wolf, nicknamed Taylor for his apparent affinity for Mount Taylor.He was struck by a vehicle earlier this year.According to 2025 quarterly reports, roughly 30 wolves were found dead last year.While several deaths were pending forensic testing, according to emails obtained by The New Mexican, a few were identified as shooting deaths, potential legal take, vehicle collision and conflict between species or other wolves.The New Mexican reported that the release of the Quartz Pack, including Asha, Arcadia and their pups, onto Ladder Ranch was delayed due to county pushback and intervention by top Interior Department officials.Links below are provided by a third-party ad network (RevContent).This publication does not endorse or guarantee the products, services, or claims featured.