The Wolf Conservation Center to Host 4 Breeding Pairs in 2013

It might still be July but Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) staff and volunteers can’t stop thinking about the upcoming winter! Earlier this month, the Species Survival Plan (SSP) management groups for both the Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf determined the programs’ breeding pairs for the 2012 season. Wolves are “mono-estrus” — breeding only once a year during the winter months. Hence, winter is an exciting time for wolves in North America and the WCC too. This season is should prove to be exciting because the WCC will be hosting four breeding pairs. For the second consecutive year we’re giving Mexican gray wolf pairs, F749 & M740 and M805 & F837, the opportunity to procreate and red wolf pairs F1291 & M1394 and F1397 & M1483 will also again get a chance to prove fruitful. All eight of these wolves are genetically valuable individuals that have been selected to breed because their offspring will increase the genetic diversity of their rare species.

We won’t know the outcome of any of these unions until “pup season” in April or May so until then, keep your fingers crossed.