Lobos on a Leash
Back from the brink, the endangered Mexican wolf can finally stretch its legs (a little).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unexpectedly declared the Mexican gray wolf endangered this week, giving greater protections to the rarest wolf of all. Hunters almost wiped out the species in the 1970s—seriously, only five were left in the wild. At that point, the agency caught the remaining wolves and brought them into captivity to start a breeding program.
In 1998 the FWS began releasing a few of the predators into the forests of Arizona and New Mexico as part of a “nonessential experimental population.” Those wolves just went essential. But there are caveats to this endangered designation (an unusual move for the FWS). First, property owners can still shoot and kill any wolf that bites or otherwise wounds livestock or pets. Second, the 80 Mexican gray wolves currently roaming the region can only quadruple their range and grow to 325. So, go forth and multiply—then stop?
onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.