It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of a special wolf that many of us “knew” yet rarely saw. Mexican Gray Wolf M805 passed away yesterday. 

M805 was 10 years old and had called the Wolf Conservation Center home since his transfer from the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, MO four years ago.  In the fall of 2010, M805 was paired with Mexican wolf F837 in hopes that the couple would produce pups.  Because the entire existing Mexican wolf population is descended from just 7 founders rescued from extinction, genetic health is the primary consideration governing  reproductive pairings.  M805 and F837 had a low inbreeding coefficient thus the two were given the opportunity to breed for three consecutive years.  Although the pair failed to ever prove fruitful, via webcam they helped a global audience understand the importance of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program and the significance of the special wolves on our property that people are not allowed to behold.

M805’s health declined rapidly over the course of a few days.  Norwalk Veterinary Hospital’s Dr Charlie Duffy DVM confirmed he was in kidney failure. We attempted to give the listless lobo supportive therapy but he didn’t respond as we had hoped. M805 was euthanized yesterday morning.

“We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes. I realized then, and have known ever since, that there was something new to me in those eyes – something known only to her and to the mountain.” ~ Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

Our hearts go out to those of you who M805 had unknowingly touched.

R.I.P. M805.