On May 22, Mexican gray wolf F1226 (affectionately nicknamed Belle) made a priceless contribution to the recovery of her rare and at-risk species, she gave birth to three pups!

The Wolf Conservation Center is one of 55 facilities in the U.S. and Mexico participating in the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan(SSP)– a bi-national initiative whose primary purpose is to support the reestablishment of Mexican wolves in the wild through captive breeding, public education, and research.

Under Mexican Wolf SSP protocols, captive born pups must be checked during certain milestones in their development. WCC staff checked in when the pups were about 10 days old to determine the size of the litter and take stock of the pups’ health. Today, near the pups’ two-month mark, WCC volunteer veterinarian Paul Maus, DVM from North Westchester Veterinary Office, joined Wolf Conservation Center staff and volunteers to record each pup’s heart rate and weight, and administer wormer and the first of a series of Distemper/Parvo vaccinations.

All three little girls are look robust and healthy weighing between 7-8 pounds.

In an effort to raise awareness for Mexican gray wolves and our active participation in endangered species recovery, we invited a global audience to join the wellness check in real-time via Facebook’s live streaming application. The video reached nearly two million viewers by end of day! Unbeknownst to the critically endangered kiddos, they’re already making a big difference.

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