A state wildlife manager unintentionally shot and killed an endangered Mount Graham red squirrel Wednesday on the mountain near Safford, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reported.
The unidentified wildlife manager, who was working with University of Arizona researchers, was seeking to reduce competition for red squirrels by removing Abert’s squirrels from drought-affected red squirrel habitat when the mishap occurred, said a department news release.
Following department protocol, the manager immediately reported the incident to his supervisor, the release said.
“While the accidental taking of any endangered species is of course regrettable, our wildlife manager in the field self-reported his actions as early and as ethically as possible,” said Game and Fish Assistant Director of Wildlife Management Jim deVos.
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Red squirrels face competition for the same food supply from the Abert’s squirrel.
A 2013 count found 272 red squirrels in the Pinaleño Mountains. That was up 59 animals from 2012, the least ever recorded.
