Outlook for Mexican gray wolf still positive, despite recent death
A male Mexican gray wolf tries to elude capture inside an enclosure at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The wolf was to be transported to the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri, for breeding purposes. (Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Conservation efforts targeted at the Mexican gray wolf have shown positive results, according to recent studies, but last weekend's death of a female wolf has been called 'tragic' by experts and advocates.
The death of wandering wolf 'Ella' was reported over the weekend by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after she was spotted last week near Mount Taylor, close to Grants above Interstate 40. She had wandered outside of the Marquez Wildlife Area — a protected area that covers about 15,000 acres in McKinley and Sandoval counties and where wolves are encouraged to remain. Interstate 40 is the northern boundary. The area is part of the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area that encompasses parts of New Mexico and Arizona and where wolves are released into the wild to repopulate.
The wildlife service reported that her body was found on Sunday and told Source NM that her death is under investigation, as is protocol for every known deceased wolf. Due to the investigation, a spokesperson for the wildlife service said they are not releasing details about the wolf's cause of death or the exact location she was found.
Ella was a member of the Sawtooth pack in New Mexico, according to Aislinn Maestas, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who added that 'every Mexican wolf in the wild contributed to recovery of the subspecies,' further emphasizing the disappointment conservationists have voiced over Ella's death.
She was one of about 160 Mexican gray wolves living in the wild in New Mexico, according to a recent census.
'Ella's death is a profound loss—not just for her species, but for all of us who saw in her journey a glimpse of what recovery could look like,' Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, said in a statement. 'She was young, instinct-driven, and full of possibility. By venturing north, she was reclaiming space that wolves once called home. Her story deserves more than mourning—it demands action to ensure other wolves have the freedom to thrive where she could not.'
Sally Paez, staff attorney for New Mexico Wild, told Source NM that she understood Ella was relatively young and around the age where she would be looking for a mate to establish her own pack, adding to the impact of her death. She said Ella was particularly interesting because she wandered outside of the Marquez Wildlife Area.
'Research has shown, and just common sense and experience — traveling around other parts of New Mexico and then Northern Arizona and Southern Colorado — there's other places that are really suitable wolf habitat where we don't currently have wolf populations,' Paez told Source NM. 'This is a wolf who, I think, was traveling through areas that could provide good wildlife corridors.'
Paez said the Mount Taylor area provides a good area for wolves because of its 'wild ecosystem,' elk herds and restoration work.
'I think it was really exciting that she was already drawn to a place that we know is good habitat and where we'd like to see wolf populations thrive,' Paez said.
According to a December 2024 report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a five-year evaluation of the Mexican wolf population showed growth surpassing experts' targets.
Maestas added that the Mexican wolf population has had nine years of growth and there is an estimated minimum 286 wolves in the wild, including New Mexico and surrounding states.
'Genetic management efforts are showing results,' Maestas told Source in an email. 'These achievements are cause for celebration and give hope that recovery of the Mexican wolf is not only possible, but on the horizon.'
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