Conservationists worry Mexican grey wolves could be threatened by cuts to recovery programs
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) –The wild population of Mexican gray wolves saw another year of growth in 2024, but with illegal killings and concerns over budget cuts to recovery programs, conservationists are worried.
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The latest numbers from the annual wild Mexican gray wolf population report show that there are at least 286 wolves in the wild between Arizona and New Mexico. 'Well, 286 is great. It's more than we've ever had in the wild before, but it's really not very many when you figure this is the entire wild population of a species. The population is increasing, but it's not just about numbers,' said Greta Anderson, Deputy Director of Western Watersheds Project.
Dating back to the early 1900s, the Mexican gray wolf was hunted and nearly wiped from existence. That was until the 1970s when the Endangered Species Act became law. 'It recognizes the inherent value of the diversity of life forms, and it makes sure that not only do we not let species disappear on our watch, but we work to recover them,' continued Anderson.
Utilizing wolves in captivity, reintroduction began in 1998 in Arizona and New Mexico, and these efforts continue to this day. 'So, it is America's best tool to fight extinction, biodiversity loss, and to keep, you know, ecosystems intact and all the wild components of those ecosystems safe and not threatened by, you know, disappearing off the face of the earth,' emphasized Chris Smith, Director for Wild Earth Guardians.
But, with threats such as conflict with livestock due to a reduction in prey, illegal killings,and potential budget cuts to recovery programs from the Trump Administration, the lobo population is still at risk. 'We don't really know what's going on with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Department of the Interior, but we do know that it's being systematically dismantled from within, and that poses a threat,' continued Smith.
Following the massive layoffs at national forest and park land, wildlife like the Lobo, are in harms way and harder to track without enough boots on the ground, 'In order to get these wolves off of the endangered species list, which is what everyone wants eventually, this program needs to be funded,' emphasized Smith. According to the Arizona and New Mexico Game and Fish Departments, there are around 350 Mexican wolves maintained at 60 facilities across the US and Mexico as part of the Mexican wolf saving animals from extinction program.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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