Wolf Conservation Center Blog
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department announced today that the number of Mexican gray wolves living across Arizona and New Mexico has increased from 286 in 2024 to 319 in 2025 (an increase of 33 wolves). There is an interesting “Catch 22” that comes along with this seemingly positive news that is associated with a problem with the current management protocols of the species. Genetic Diversity Waning As the Mexican gray wolf population grows in the wild, and efforts to introduce genetic diversity stagnate, it will become more challenging to improve the declining genetic diversity of the endangered species. In 2025, the mean kinship of the wild population, or measure of relatedness, was 0.2404; full siblings have a mean kinship of 0.25. The resumption of captive-to-wild releases of family groups, in addition to the pup fostering technique currently employed by the Mexican…
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A newly revealed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document allows Catron County ranchers to kill any one endangered Mexican gray wolf who happens to be in the area of two grazing allotments near Quemado, New Mexico. The permit doesn’t identify which wolf the ranchers can shoot, nor does it specify livestock lost to wolves preceding this kill authorization. Several wolf families are in the area, including a likely pregnant, genetically valuable female wolf of the Elk Horn pack who was named Nora by the Endangered Wolf Center in Missouri before she was released into the Arizona wild as a pup in 2020. Nora is one of the 21% of genetically valuable captive-born pups known to have survived such releases without their birthparents. “The permit allows the permittees to kill any wolf they see on private or federal land, in retribution for alleged and undisclosed livestock losses. This…
Distinct body form and high survival of coastal coyotes along the Texas-Louisiana border region allow coyotes harboring red wolf ancestry to persist decades after the red wolf’s extirpation from the region. South Salem, NY — A new study led by the Wolf Conservation Center Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab and published in Ecosphere reveals how red wolf ancestry has persisted for more than four decades after the red wolf was declared extirpated from the wild. The research shows that a combination of distinctive physical traits adapted to coastal wetlands and high survival has allowed coyotes to harbor, maintain, and pass on red wolf genetics. The study focused on hybrid-like coyotes referred to as “Gulf Coast canids,” living in coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico that retained significant red wolf ancestry. Researchers found that these coastal coyotes form a stable, locally adapted wetland ecotype shaped by historical red wolf introgression…
Federal Protections for Mexican Gray Wolves Under Attack
Mexican gray wolves are the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America, with just 286 known to live in the wild in the United States. Yet despite their tenuous…
Congress Urges Trump Administration to Abandon Effort to Gut Endangered Species Act
Today, prominent Congressional Democrats led members of their party in demanding the Trump administration withdraw their proposed rules that would effectively dismantle the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “These sweeping changes…
Proposed Rules Poised to Dismantle Endangered Species Act
Your Voice Needed by December 22 The Trump Administration recently unveiled proposed Endangered Species Act (the Act) rules that severely undermine the Act and make it easier for corporations such…
Red Wolf Ginger Begins a New Adventure
Exciting news! Red Wolf Ginger has officially embarked on a new adventure at the North Carolina Zoo! 🐺 On Saturday, the great team at Pilots to the Rescue (PTTR) took…
In Loving Memory of Mexican Gray Wolf Diane
Dear friends, It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mexican gray wolf Diane. She passed away on October 30th at 7 years old. Diane was born…
How the USDA’s New Beef Industry Plan Puts Wolves at Risk
Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced their Beef Industry Plan aimed at “fortifying” a subset of American business owners who already receive significant subsidies and handouts funded…
Challenging Misconceptions About Red Wolf Reintroduction: Public Support Outweighs Opposition
The reintroduction of endangered wolves to their historical ranges is often framed in terms of human-centered costs and benefits–the latter, more frequently. For example, wildlife officials may emphasize potential human-wildlife…
Survey Finds Strong Support for Continued Wolf Protections Across United States
A new survey found there is strong support for continued wolf protections across the United States. The survey, conducted by Drs. John Vucetich and Jeremy Bruskotter, was implemented in July…
Coyote Dispersal and Ecology in Westchester County
Last year, the Wolf Conservation Center Integrative Ecology & Coexistence Lab (WCC-IECL) initiated a study of local wildlife in Westchester County, New York, with a particular focus on coyote ecology.…
38 Years of Red Wolves in the Wild
Thirty-eight years ago, a new chapter in wildlife conservation began with a wild homecoming unlike anything seen before. The first captive-bred Red Wolves were released to the wild! In 1980,…
Love in the Wild: What Drives Red Wolf Pairing Success
Do opposites really attract? With Red Wolves, it just might be true. Our research partner Lovin, a graduate student at Utah State University advised by Dr. Julie Young, is helping…
Kinari’s Nursery Tales: Moments from a Pup’s First Weeks
As our ambassador pup Kinari’s time in the nursery has come to an end, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated pup nannies, both staff and volunteers, who spent…