In the winter, a tradition unfolds as federal and state wildlife managers embark on their annual mission to count Mexican gray wolves throughout the New Mexico and Arizona mountain ranges. Using remote cameras, scat samples, radio telemetry collars, and helicopters, each wolf is meticulously tracked and documented.
The wolves captured in this survey are subject to a routine process: weighing, vaccination, drawing of blood, and checking of their radio collars. This comprehensive effort is part of a longstanding initiative aimed at monitoring and encouraging the recovery of this endangered species within its historical habitat spanning the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico.
This year, findings reveal that the comeback of Mexican wolves is progressing steadily. These wolves, the smallest subspecies of gray wolves in North America, were declared endangered in 1976. This prompted the inception of a binational breeding program designed to prevent their extinction. Over time, the reintroduction efforts have sparked numerous legal disputes, largely between environmental advocates who push for more wolves to be released and ranchers concerned about safeguarding their livelihoods.
A numerical glimpse into the current status of Mexican gray wolves reveals the following:
There are now at least 286 Mexican wolves thriving in the wild across New Mexico and Arizona. This is an 11% increase from the previous year, marking the ninth consecutive year of population growth since reintroduction efforts began in 1998 with 11 captive-reared wolves in southeastern Arizona.
As of the end of 2024, wildlife managers have identified a minimum of 60 packs, over fifty percent of which occupy southwestern New Mexico. A pack is defined as a group of at least two wolves sharing a home range.
In total, 26 breeding pairs are known to exist in the wild, with 16 residing in New Mexico and 10 in Arizona. During 2024, the survival rate for 160 wolf pups born was 48%, with 79 pups surviving at least to the year’s end.
Moreover, 27 wolf pups, bred in captivity, were successfully fostered into wild dens, and these cross-fostering efforts are deemed crucial for enhancing wolf population and genetic diversity.
In 2024, 30 wolf deaths were recorded, with six occurring in the fourth quarter, wherein nearly all happened in New Mexico.
The year also witnessed 99 confirmed incidents where wolves were accountable for livestock fatalities, although this represents a decrease according to the wolf recovery team, even as ranchers continue to view wolves as a threat to safety and livelihoods.
Wildlife managers executed 290 successful hazing attempts to deter wolves from approaching rural homes and livestock within the year.
In captivity, centers across the United States and Mexico house approximately 350 Mexican wolves, playing pivotal roles in their conservation.
The strategic efforts backed by a 25-year recovery plan are projected to cost $203 million. However, environmental groups express concern that the recent cuts in federal funding and staffing could potentially hinder the progress of these extensive restoration endeavors.