Mexican Wolf at Minnesota Zoo, from Wikipedia

December 1, 2021

Critically-imperiled Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) are at a crossroads in their recovery. While the wild population of wolves has grown considerably in the last decade, the genetic diversity of these lobos has lagged behind, putting the species at risk of an inbreeding bottleneck. This threat is compounded by changing habitats, climate change, livestock grazing, and the highly-politicized management of the species.

Right now, there’s an opportunity to help change all of that. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is revising its 2015 Mexican gray wolf 10(j) Management Rule, and there’s a public comment period until January 27th, 2022 for people like you to weigh in and demand a science-based management rule.

Science tells us we need at least 750 to 1000 wild Mexican gray wolves in several populations, three in the United States and one in Mexico. Despite this, the proposed rule would limit the wild population to just 325 wolves across Arizona and New Mexico. The proposed rule also maintains an arbitrary boundary at Interstate 40 that sets the northern limit of where lobos can roam.

A science-based management rule (and potential talking points for your comments) would include:

• Designation of Mexican gray wolves as “essential,” giving them full protection under the Endangered Species Act;
• An ecologically effective population size of Mexican gray wolves so that they may fulfill their natural role as top predators;
• Measurable standards that address the crisis of declining genetic diversity and ways for ensuring progress toward recovery benchmarks;
• Requirements for the release of bonded wolf families into the wild;
• Meaningful plans to reduce human-caused mortality;
• Unlimited area for Mexican wolves to roam and a removal of the arbitrary boundary at Interstate 40;
• Firm requirements to prevent conflicts with livestock in wolf habitat; and
• Accountability of the USFWS for actual results — it would not just be a wish-list of goals.

Please submit your comments in support of real recovery for the Mexican gray wolf by January 27, 2021.

Comments can be sent to:

Public Comments Processing​
Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2021-0103​
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service​
MS: PRB/3W​
5275 Leesburg Pike​
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803

Or online through Regulations.gov (Docket FWS-R2-ES-2021-0103​)

There are also public information sessions and virtual hearings on December 8, 2021 and January 11, 2022. More information about registering for these public events is online at https://bit.ly/3I2ZNq0

Please speak up for Mexican gray wolves today!

Contact greta@westernwatersheds.org with questions or for more information.