Mexican Wolf

~ Threats & How We Can Help ~

Regina Seiler

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mexican-wolf--arizona-phil-degginger.html

Description & Ecology

The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the smallest existing gray wolf in North America, with a maximum weight of 90 pounds and a 6 foot maximum length. It has darker patchy coloring and light colored underparts. It is very distinct species nucleotide polymorphism making it different from other North American Wolves.

They are a top predator that lives in packs with complex family social structures that often consist of multiple generations. At any point of time, there is usually one Alpha pair, and that is the only one monogamous pair of wolves in that pack that can breed. Each pack consists of 4-8 wolves, and 4-6 pups per birthing period.

Mexican wolves requires forest areas and plenty prey, such as deer, elk, and white-tailed deer, to hunt and feed on. Just like their cousins, the Gray Wolf, the ecology of the area depends on the Mexican Wolf to keep it balanced.

https://www.czs.org/custom.czs/files/f7/f73d6f54-40ab-4610-a879-392fc2b2b5f6.jpg

Geography & Population

Prior to the Endangered Species Act of 1976 the Mexican Wolf inhabited the montane forests and woodlands of Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Due largely to the decline of elk and many other ungulates that the wolves prey on, Mexican wolves started hunting livestock. This angered farmers, so they planned efforts to eradicate them from the area. By the time the Mexican wolf was listed as endangered, their numbers were not only dramatically low in Mexico, there were NO WILD POPULATIONS remaining in the United States.

https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/20170628_DftMexiWolfRevRecPlan_Public_Comment.pdf

Listing Date & Type of Listing

The process took an outstanding 35 years to list the Mexican Wolf on the Endangered Species List.
Beginning 1976, on April 28th, the Mexican wolf was originally listed as a subspecies of Grey Wolves. If the Gray Wolf was delisted, the Mexican Wolf was no longer considered protected. By March 1978, the Mexican Wolf was classified as endangered again (except in Minnesota!) But, it wasn't till August 11, 2009 when the Center for Biology Diversity requested the Mexican Wolf be listed as endangered. Then, on June 13th 2013, it was proposed to de-list the Gray Wolf and list the Mexican Wolf as endangered. Finally on February 17th, 2015, this rule went into effect.

Cause of Listing & Main Threats to Its Continual Existence

Two combined factors threaten the the Mexican Wolf; Illegal shooting and inbreeding (which results in loss of adaptive potential). Those two factors are only accentuated by it small population size and inadequate regulatory protection.

Recovery Plan

The recovery plan ensures breeding of wolves that are adaptable to varying environments and are genetically strong against varying environmental threats.

1) starts with 7 purebred Mexican Wolves

2) mate them in captivity

3) releasing them into two separate areas:

- Mexico: Northern Sierra Madre Occidental in Sonora, Durango, and Chihuahua &

- the United States: New Mexico and Arizona.

Once released they are tracked by recording the following data for 16-20 years :

4) population numbers and state of health.

5) changes in their environment

Full self sustainable recovery is expected in 25-35 years. Progress will be recorded at 5 years intervals after to ensure recovery efforts are still holding up.

https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/20170628_DftMexiWolfRevRecPlan_Public_Comment.pdf

Mexican Wolf 447 Experimental Population Area (MWEPA)

Goal of MWEPA to be downlisted to Threatened
(in either locations meets its criteria):

United States:

1) population number of 320 for more than 4 year in a row

2) 22 wolves with sufficient gene diversity have been released; either as a pup for two years into its breeding age or adult that survived a full year in the wild.

Mexico:

1) population number of 150 for more than 4 years in a row

2) meets the same gene diversity and breeding age survivorship criteria as stated for the United States experiment population.

Goals of MWEPA to be Delisted
(at least 2 populations meet its criteria):

United States:

1) population number of 320 for 8 years in a row, with the 22 wolves reaching breeding age earlier.

Mexico:

1) experimental population number of 170 for 8 years in a row

2) 37 wolves meet the same gene diversity and breeding age survivorship criteria as stated for the

United States experimental population.

What Can We Do??

🐺 Help establish and maintain laws for: protection, genetic testing/breeding, replaying farmers for
lost livestock.

🐺 Defend the Endangered Species Act by staying informed, speaking out.

🐺 Giving financial support (tax deductible sites below)

Mexican Wolf Fund Mexican Wolf/Livestock Interdiction Trust Fund
*http://www.mexicanwolffund.org/ *http://www.coexistencecouncil.org/home.html

Sources

https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/natural_history.cfm

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-16/pdf/2015-00441.pdf