Mexican wolf

The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), also known as the lobo, is a subspecies of gray wolf native to southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico in the United States, and northern Mexico. It once also ranged into western Texas. It is the smallest of North America's gray wolves, and is similar to the Great Plains wolf (C. l. nubilus), though it is distinguished by its smaller, narrower skull and its darker pelt, which is yellowish-gray and heavily clouded with black over the back and tail. Its ancestors were likely the first gray wolves to enter North America after the extinction of the Beringian wolf, as indicated by its southern range and basal physical and genetic characteristics.

Though once held in high regard in Pre-Columbian Mexico, it became the most endangered gray wolf subspecies in North America, having been extirpated in the wild during the mid-1900s through a combination of hunting, trapping, poisoning and digging pups from dens. After being listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1976, the United States and Mexico collaborated to capture all lobos remaining in the wild. This extreme measure forestalled their extinction. Five wild Mexican wolves (four males and one pregnant female) were captured alive in Mexico from 1977 to 1980 and used to start a captive breeding program. Through this program, captive-bred Mexican wolves were released into recovery areas in Arizona and New Mexico beginning in 1998 in order to recolonize the animals' historical range.

As of 2023, there are 241 wild Mexican wolves in the US and 45 in Mexico, and 380 in captive breeding programs, up from the 11 lobos that were released in Arizona in 1998. 2021 was the most successful year so far for the recovery program, resulting in the highest number of individuals, pups born, pups survived, and packs. Approximately 60% of the lobos were found in New Mexico and 40% in Arizona although historically both states have had similar numbers of wolves. In 2021, the U.S. population had nearly doubled over 5 years. These numbers represent a minimum since the survey only counts wolf sightings confirmed by Interagency Field Team staff.