What’s Up With the Mexican Wolf?

What’s Up With the Mexican Wolf?

It is likely that the Mexican wolf, one of the rarest land mammals in the world, exists only in captivity. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan is of highest priority among wolf recovery programs. The fate of the Mexican wolf could be decided by the end of 1996. First, a little history:

1976: Mexican wolf listed as endangered species

1979: Mexican Wolf Recovery Team created

1982: Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, calling for the release of 100 wolves in historic range, is approved

Summer 1995: Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf released for public review

July 1996: Final EIS, identifying the Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed recovery action plan scheduled to be released

The Mexican wolf recovery process has been slow due, in part, to lack of funding. If the Interior Department opts to take action, Mexican wolves will be released from the captive population to the White Sands or Blue Range Recovery Areas of the southwestern United States. If necessary and feasible, a second reintroduction into this area would follow.
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