Possible wolf sighting north of Ruidoso

Nathan Thomas was walking with his wife on Box Canyon Circle in Ranches of Sonterra subdivision north of Ruidoso when they witnessed two wolves attack and drag a mature doe into the Bonito River. In an email to another resident of the community, Thomas, president of the Ranches home owners association, wrote that the incident occurred not at night, but at 9:45 a.m. Saturday. He estimated the mule deer weighed about 150 pounds. "We were able to save the deer by getting the wolves to release her throat and flee after a 20-second vicious attack," Thomas wrote. "Thank goodness I didn't shoot the wolves, because later when I got on the Internet, I discovered these animals were Mexican gray wolves, an endangered species protected by both federal and New Mexico law." He described the canines as looking similar to a 50-pound German shepherd with burnt orange/red fur mixed into their lower torsos and tails. "I'm writing, because if these animals are roaming ROS in the daytime, they could have just as easily grabbed one of our small dogs or a neighbor's much larger dog," Thomas wrote. "I don't know if they'd attack a human. Perhaps you might want to alert ROS residents of this incident. I'm not naive enough to think there aren't predators in this part of New Mexico, but seeing two wolves appear out of nowhere and grab a huge deer right off the pavement in broad daylight was a sobering reminder to be ever vigilant when walking, jogging or bicycle riding."...more