Wolf Conservation Center Blog
Congress was expected to vote later today on H.R. 1897, a bill that would have rolled back key protections under the Endangered Species Act. However, the bill has now been pulled again from consideration. Thanks to over 4,000 messages from WCC supporters to Congress over the past three weeks, this harmful proposal was delayed before it could advance. H.R. 1897, introduced by Rep. Westerman, was a proposed bill that sought to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It aimed to block new species protections while fast-tracking the removal of existing ones, shift key decisions to states where policies could increase wolf hunting and trapping, and loosen safeguards against habitat destruction, putting critical ecosystems at risk. This bill prioritized politics over science, stripping authority from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and undermining protections for endangered and threatened species. “Today’s win is proof that when we work together, we can create…
The speed of physical pup development is incredible! Although no bigger than one pound at birth, wolves reach their adult size in less than one year, and reach sexual maturity at about two years old. So what, exactly, does pup development look like? 0 – 12 daysEyes and ears are closedDark fur, rounded heads – about 1 lb in sizeVocalizations consist of whines and whimpersNursing 12 days – 1 monthEyes and ears open around 12 days old, eyes are blueBegin to stand and slowly walk around in denVocalizations expand to include growls, squeaky attempts at howlsBegin to eat small pieces of regurgitated meat 1 month – 2 monthsExplore outside of the den, play near the entranceDisproportionately large paws and headGradual weaning process begins; grown canine teeth and premolar teethPlay fighting with littermates begins 2 months – 4 monthsEyes slowly change from blue to golden yellowPups eat solid food provided by…
For immediate release April 8, 2026 TUCSON, Ariz. – Conservationists are celebrating the historic translocation of two families of Mexican gray wolves in Durango, Mexico, almost fifty years after the last wolves were removed from the state to initiate the captive breeding program that saved the subspecies from extinction. Mexico has been releasing wolves in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua since 2011, but the Durango effort marks a major milestone in restoring wolves to a more southern part of their range. The wolves are in a pre-release pen and scheduled to be released into the wild in the coming weeks. “Introducing these new wolf packs in Mexico is a sure sign that our partners to the south are dedicated to Mexican gray wolf recovery and our shared mission,” said Craig Miller, Defenders of Wildlife senior Southwest representative. “While we celebrate this moment today, we must remain vigilant on our…
Winter Rules
Spring may be the time “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” but for wolves, the wintertime is when their hormones turn toward making pups. Wolves are…
Where the Wild Things Are…
Obviously getting to see the wolves is the highlight of a visit to the Center, but every time I head up to the Center I’m looking forward to being surprised…
Updates!
Here’s some recent news about previous topics: BuffaloThe buffalo donated to us after Thanksgiving was cut up and distributed among various SSP wolves and the ambassador wolves. The ambassadors’ reactions…
WCC Hits the Road!
Part of our mission at the Wolf Conservation Center is to let people know that there are simple things we all can do to make the world a better place.…
Otter Nonsense
As I’ve mentioned before, we love to give our wolves opportunities for enrichment – experiences that will provide them with interesting sensations or challenges. A few weeks ago when Atka…
Route 22, Where the Buffalo Roam…
Since joining the Wolf Conservation Center as a volunteer, I’ve been lucky to see and do a lot of things I never thought I’d experience. Today, driving down Route 22…
Happy Thanksgiving!
We want to wish a very happy holiday to all our friends, including visitors to the Center or one of our off-site programs; all those who have donated time, energy…
F836 Update
We received some good news from the US Fish and Wildlife Service last week. F836 and M1039 (now referred to as the Moonshine Pack) have chewed their way out of…
Close Encounters of the Weird Kind
We’re constantly trying to make sure that our ambassador wolves have interesting experiences. Their enclosures are spacious and have natural varied terrain, but we also try to provide them with…
Into the Wild…
F836 (photo by Mike Clough) The Wolf Conservation Center is pleased to announce that F836, a five-year-old female Mexican Gray Wolf who lived at the Center for several…
Something Fishy…
On Friday November 14th Atka visited the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT as part of the Aquarium’s efforts to educate visitors about endangered species. Atka hung out in a spacious…
Help Protect the Wolves!
Wolves in the Northern Rockies are once more in danger of losing the protection of the Endangered Species Act. After delisting the wolves and then being forced to relist them…