Wolf Conservation Center Blog
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are proud to spotlight the incredible women who power our mission each and every day. At the Wolf Conservation Center, our work to protect and preserve wolves would not be possible without the dedication, expertise, and compassion of the women on our team. From animal care and research to education, advocacy, communications, and development, women play a vital role in every aspect of our organization. We are deeply grateful for the knowledge, leadership, and heart that our team brings to this work every day. To the women who care for the wolves, who analyze the data, who educate the public, who build partnerships, and who champion our mission: thank you. Your work matters. Your voices matter. And because of you, wolves have a stronger future. This month and every month, we celebrate you. Leila Wetmore, CEO Leila has been an environmental activist and…
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department announced today 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). There is an interesting “Catch 22” that comes along with this seemingly positive news that is associated with a problem with the current management protocols of the species. Genetic Diversity Waning As the Mexican gray wolf population grows in the wild, and efforts to introduce genetic diversity stagnate, it will become more challenging to improve the declining genetic diversity of the endangered species. In 2025, the mean kinship of the wild population, or measure of relatedness, was 0.2404; full siblings have a mean kinship of 0.25. The resumption of captive-to-wild releases of family groups, in addition to the pup fostering technique currently employed by the Mexican…
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A newly revealed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document allows Catron County ranchers to kill any one endangered Mexican gray wolf who happens to be in the area of two grazing allotments near Quemado, New Mexico. The permit doesn’t identify which wolf the ranchers can shoot, nor does it specify livestock lost to wolves preceding this kill authorization. Several wolf families are in the area, including a likely pregnant, genetically valuable female wolf of the Elk Horn pack who was named Nora by the Endangered Wolf Center in Missouri before she was released into the Arizona wild as a pup in 2020. Nora is one of the 21% of genetically valuable captive-born pups known to have survived such releases without their birthparents. “The permit allows the permittees to kill any wolf they see on private or federal land, in retribution for alleged and undisclosed livestock losses. This…
West Virginia Students Inspire Community to Make a Better World for Wolves
In a classroom in Martinsburg, West Virginia, home of the Berkeley Heights Elementary School Badgers, the sounds of curiosity and excitement fill the air. Mrs. Kelly Gray’s Roots and Shoots…
Federal Protections for Mexican Gray Wolves Under Attack
Mexican gray wolves are the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America, with just 286 known to live in the wild in the United States. Yet despite their tenuous…
Congress Urges Trump Administration to Abandon Effort to Gut Endangered Species Act
Today, prominent Congressional Democrats led members of their party in demanding the Trump administration withdraw their proposed rules that would effectively dismantle the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “These sweeping changes…
Proposed Rules Poised to Dismantle Endangered Species Act
Your Voice Needed by December 22 The Trump Administration recently unveiled proposed Endangered Species Act (the Act) rules that severely undermine the Act and make it easier for corporations such…
Red Wolf Ginger Begins a New Adventure
Exciting news! Red Wolf Ginger has officially embarked on a new adventure at the North Carolina Zoo! 🐺 On Saturday, the great team at Pilots to the Rescue (PTTR) took…
In Loving Memory of Mexican Gray Wolf Diane
Dear friends, It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mexican gray wolf Diane. She passed away on October 30th at 7 years old. Diane was born…
How the USDA’s New Beef Industry Plan Puts Wolves at Risk
Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced their Beef Industry Plan aimed at “fortifying” a subset of American business owners who already receive significant subsidies and handouts funded…
Challenging Misconceptions About Red Wolf Reintroduction: Public Support Outweighs Opposition
The reintroduction of endangered wolves to their historical ranges is often framed in terms of human-centered costs and benefits–the latter, more frequently. For example, wildlife officials may emphasize potential human-wildlife…
Survey Finds Strong Support for Continued Wolf Protections Across United States
A new survey found there is strong support for continued wolf protections across the United States. The survey, conducted by Drs. John Vucetich and Jeremy Bruskotter, was implemented in July…
Coyote Dispersal and Ecology in Westchester County
Last year, the Wolf Conservation Center Integrative Ecology & Coexistence Lab (WCC-IECL) initiated a study of local wildlife in Westchester County, New York, with a particular focus on coyote ecology.…
38 Years of Red Wolves in the Wild
Thirty-eight years ago, a new chapter in wildlife conservation began with a wild homecoming unlike anything seen before. The first captive-bred Red Wolves were released to the wild! In 1980,…
Love in the Wild: What Drives Red Wolf Pairing Success
Do opposites really attract? With Red Wolves, it just might be true. Our research partner Lovin, a graduate student at Utah State University advised by Dr. Julie Young, is helping…