The Wolf Conservation Center participates in the SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Program, formerly known as Species Survival Plan (SSP), for two endangered wolf species, the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) and the red wolf (Canis rufus). The Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf are among the rarest mammals in North America; both species were at one time extinct in the wild.

Organizations participating in SAFE are tasked with basic husbandry, collaborating in the carefully managed captive breeding and release program, and research. At the Wolf Conservation Center (the Center) we currently host 12 Mexican gray wolves and 17 red wolves within our Endangered Species Facility. Wolves breed in late winter, are pregnant for about 63 days, and usually birth four to six pups.

Genetic health is the primary consideration governing decisions for reproductive pairings and captive-to-wild release events. This year, two wolf couples had the opportunity to breed at the Center:

Breeding Pairs

Red Wolves Martha (F2242) and Oka (M2048)

Martha was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in 2018 and lived at the Museum of Life and Science with her mate, Oka, before returning to us in late 2025. Together, they have three pups: Proton, Scuppernong, and Ember, and we’re hopeful for more this spring.

Red Wolves Sabine (F2506) and Mac Tire (M2274)

Sabine joined us from the Akron Zoo in November 2025 and was identified as a strong genetic match for Red Wolf Mac, who has lived at the Center since 2023. We’re staying hopeful and keeping our paws crossed for pups!

Bonded Pairs

Mexican gray wolves Trumpet (F1505) and Lighthawk (M1564)

Trumpet and Lighthawk were introduced in winter of 2017 and the pair immediately bonded, welcoming their first litter of pups in 2018. To date, the pair has welcomed six litters of pups and some of those pups have been released to the wild through a process known as “pup fostering.”

Due to Lighthawk’s age, he is no longer an active breeding participant in the Mexican gray wolf SAFE program so he received a vasectomy in 2025. This allows him and Trumpet to remain together year-round without being separated during breeding season. Trumpet and Lighthawk currently live with their two daughters born in 2025, Lyra and Aurora.

Red Wolves Oak (F2304) and Adeyha (M2080)

Oak and Adeyha were introduced to each other in 2023 in hopes that they would bond and welcome pups. Thankfully, they did!

Adeyha and Oak became parents to pups Tupelo, Cedar, Maple, Sassafras, and Juniper in spring 2024 and the pack grew again with the birth of Rusty, Georgie, and Riley in spring 2025.

Although the pair was separated this year during breeding season and are not planned to have pups, their bond is stronger than ever.

Mexican Gray Wolves Betty (F2660) and Ripley (M1925)

Betty, named after the iconic Betty White, joined the WCC in 2023. She was later paired with Ripley, who arrived in 2025, with hopes that the two would welcome pups that spring. While they did not have a successful litter and are not planned to breed this year, they remain a strong pair, often seen spending time together and reinforcing their bond.

Red Wolf Survival Update

As of the latest count of the wild red wolf population released from the US Fish and Wildlife Service released in February 2026, there are 26 known/collared wild Red Wolves, including 10 pups born in 2025. Thanks to essential tracking collars and transmitters provided by the Wolf Conservation Center, we can accurately monitor how many wolves are living in the wild.

While there is still critical work ahead to secure the species future, this marks meaningful progress. In January 2025, the population totaled 17 known individuals, making this year’s increase an important step forward for Red Wolf recovery.

Mexican Gray Wolf Survival Update

In late February, the Arizona and New Mexico Game and Fish Departments announced that the number of Mexican gray wolves living across Arizona and New Mexico has increased from 286 in 2024 to 319 in 2025, an increase of 33 wolves. However, there’s a catch-22.

As the population grows, it will soon reach an average of 320 wolves over four years, the threshold required to downlist the species from endangered to threatened.

Downlisting would allow for “greater management flexibility,” making it easier for agencies and livestock producers to kill Mexican wolves.

Recovery cannot be measured by numbers alone. We must also consider the genetic health of the population and whether this species still faces serious risk.

Stay In The Loop

We don’t know if any of the above breeding plans will prove fruitful, but we need not wait long to find out! Make sure to follow all our social media channels to get the latest updates as the birds and the bees make their way through the New York trees.