The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced survey results showing an increase in the Mexican wolf population in 2023.
USFWS showed the population was a minimum of 257 wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico, marking the eighth consecutive year of expansion, the longest continuous streak since recovery efforts commenced.
Jim deVos, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mexican wolf coordinator, said the 2023 data highlights significant progress in Mexican wolf recovery since the initial release, with yearly increases in the free-roaming population and expansion of their occupied territories.
Additionally, genetic management efforts, including strategically placing selected pups from captivity into wild dens, have shown promising results, fostering hope for continued progress toward recovery.
Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, acknowledged that the increasing population of Mexican wolves provides resilience against various threats, but expressed concern about the persistently low numbers.
Although the immediate risk of extinction has diminished, Robinson warned that genetic mismanagement by the government jeopardizes the long-term survival of this distinct subspecies.
