A male Mexican gray wolf recently released in Arizona's Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is doing well. The release was timed to coincide with normal early season breeding activities. KJZZ’s Al Macias reports.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials say the 4-year-old wolf replaced an alpha male found dead last July. Investigators say that wolf was illegally killed.

A field team studied the wolf pack before last week's release to ensure no other male had paired with the pack's alpha female.

The Mexican gray wolf was added to the federal endangered species list in 1976.  It was nearly wiped out by government trapping and poisoning designed to help cattle ranchers.

The federal government began a reintroduction effort in 1998 in Arizona and New Mexico. A government survey last year showed there 58 Mexican gray wolves living in the two states.