The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized its rule to remove its population cap on Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest.
The agency will also increase captive wolf releases and restrict three forms of allowable take. The management target is to achieve a population of at least 320 wolves over a rolling eight-year average.
Environmentalist groups applauded the rule finalization but said it didn’t go far enough to increase genetic diversity.
“This rule won’t alleviate the Mexican wolf’s dire genetic plight,” said Michael Robinson at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s a missed opportunity to return to releasing genetically diverse wolf families and prioritizing their survival.” The new rule will go into effect on Aug. 1.
