Wolves are present in New Mexico, specifically the Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), the rarest and most genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf in North America. Often called “lobo,” these wolves are found in the southwestern part of the state due to a binational, decades-long conservation and reintroduction effort. The species was entirely eliminated from the wild in the United States by the 1970s, making their current presence a significant recovery milestone. Their continued existence is governed by a complex framework of federal protections and state-level management.
The History of the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program
The coordinated extermination of the Mexican gray wolf began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by federal, state, and private campaigns to protect the growing livestock industry. This effort used trapping, poisoning, and hunting, leading to the complete absence of wild Mexican wolves in the United States by the mid-1900s. The species was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1976, prompting recovery efforts.
A binational captive breeding program was established shortly thereafter, based on only seven remaining Mexican wolves captured in Mexico between 1977 and 1980, which formed the species’ genetic foundation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan in 1982, aiming to reintroduce the subspecies back into its historic range.
The plan culminated in the first releases in March 1998, when the USFWS released 11 captive-raised wolves into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA), spanning eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. The reintroduction site in New Mexico is primarily within the Gila National Forest. The USFWS designated the released animals as a “nonessential experimental population” under the ESA via the Mexican Wolf Final Rule in 1998.
Current Population Status and Geographic Range
The wild population of Mexican wolves is tracked through an annual census conducted by the Interagency Field Team, which includes biologists from multiple federal and state agencies. The most recent completed survey, conducted at the end of 2024, revealed a minimum of 286 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico. This number represents the ninth consecutive year of population growth since the recovery program began.
Of the total wild population counted in the 2024 survey, a minimum of 162 wolves were located within New Mexico, with the remaining 124 in Arizona. The primary geographic range for the wolves is the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA), which encompasses a large portion of the southwestern United States. Within New Mexico, the population is concentrated in the mountainous areas of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA).
Monitoring is conducted between November and February using a variety of methods:
- Ground and aerial counts.
- Remote cameras.
- Scat collection.
- Collaring.
The 2024 count documented at least 60 packs across both states, with 37 of those packs located in New Mexico. Biologists use techniques like fostering captive-born pups into wild dens to help improve the genetic health of the wild population.
Federal and State Management Frameworks
The management of the Mexican gray wolf population is defined by its status as an “experimental population” under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. This designation classifies the wild population as “nonessential experimental,” which provides the USFWS with increased management flexibility compared to a fully endangered species. The rule treats the wolves as threatened, rather than endangered, within the MWEPA, allowing for more nuanced management responses to conflict.
The USFWS, as the federal authority, is responsible for the overall recovery of the species and management of the 10(j) rule. This rule outlines specific conditions under which the “take” (harassment, capture, or killing) of a wolf is permitted, such as in cases of conflict with livestock on federal and non-federal lands. For example, the rule allows for the lethal removal of a wolf if it is documented in the act of biting, killing, or wounding livestock, provided there is supporting evidence.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) acts as a cooperative state agency, working within the boundaries of the federal rule. The 10(j) rule also includes provisions allowing state agencies to request the removal of wolves if predation is deemed to have an “unacceptable impact” on wild ungulate herds like elk or deer. This dual authority creates a complex management environment where federal recovery goals intersect with state-level wildlife and livestock concerns.