ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An annual winter ritual unfolds as federal and state wildlife managers employ a variety of methods such as remote cameras, scat collection, radio telemetry devices, and helicopters to conduct a census of Mexican gray wolves in the mountainous terrains of New Mexico and Arizona. The captured predators undergo thorough examinations — they are weighed, vaccinated, blood samples taken, and their radio collars checked. This meticulous process is part of an extensive, decades-long endeavor to assess the effectiveness of efforts aimed at reintroducing the endangered Mexican gray wolf to its historical habitat in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
The recent count indicates a gradual progress in the recovery of the Mexican gray wolf population. As the smallest subspecies of gray wolves in North America, the Mexican wolves were designated as endangered in 1976, prompting the initiation of a binational captive breeding program to safeguard against extinction. The reintroduction program has been embroiled in numerous legal disputes over the years, with environmental advocates advocating for the release of more captive wolves into the wilderness and ranchers striving to protect their traditional way of life.
Here is a breakdown of Mexican gray wolves by the numbers:
286 – This represents the minimum count of Mexican wolves currently inhabiting the wild in New Mexico and Arizona. The figure reflects an 11% increase from the prior year, marking the ninth consecutive year of population growth. The reintroductions commenced in 1998 with the release of 11 captive-reared wolves in southeastern Arizona.
60 – The minimum number of documented packs by the end of 2024, with over half of them residing in southwestern New Mexico. Wildlife managers define a pack as consisting of two or more wolves sharing a common home range.
26 – The number of breeding pairs in the wild, with 16 pairs in New Mexico and 10 in Arizona.
48% – The survival rate of the 160 pups born in 2024. According to wildlife managers, 79 pups managed to survive at least until the year’s end.
27 – Mexican wolf pups that were fostered in 2024, wherein captive-bred pups were placed into natural dens to be raised by wild wolf packs. Officials note that cross-fostering pups aids in bolstering wolf numbers and genetic diversity.
30 – The total count of wolf deaths recorded in 2024, including six in the fourth quarter, primarily concentrated in New Mexico.
99 – The confirmed instances in 2024 where wolves were responsible for killing livestock, with seven investigations still pending. Although officials from the wolf recovery team report a decline in livestock deaths attributed to wolves, ranchers perceive it as a safety concern impacting their families and livelihoods.
290 – The number of successful hazing operations conducted in 2024 by wildlife managers to deter wolves from approaching rural residences and livestock.
350 – An approximate count of Mexican wolves housed in captivity in zoos and other facilities across the United
