The Mexican wolf, also known as "Lobo",
is the smallest subspecies of the North American grey wolf. From prehistoric to fairly recent times, the Mexican wolf ranged from central Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona. Mexican wolves were common throughout their range well into the 1800s. The decline of natural prey increased their predation on domesticated livestock raised in their natural territory, and lead to their eradication. By the mid-1900s wolves had been all but eliminated from the lower 48 states of the United States.
The average Mexican wolf is 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet in length (nose to tail), 50 to 90 pounds, and 26 to 32 inches in shoulder height. Breeding occurs in mid-February through mid-March with a gestation period of 63 days. Litters of 4 to 6 pups are born in April and May.
Wolves in the Southwest preferred the mountain woodlands, due to the favorable cover, availability of water, and the abundance of food. The Mexican wolf preyed upon deer, antelope, javelina, rabbits, and other small mammals. Biologists believe the wolves form small family units or social packs consisting of an adult breeding pair and their offspring. Both parents and other pack members would bring food to the young.
In an agreement between Mexico and the United States, a recovery plan was begun in 1977 with the live capture of wolves in Mexico. Five Mexican wolves were captured between 1977 and 1980 in Durango, and Chihuahua, Mexico, and were transferred to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona. These five wolves, four males and one pregnant female, were the beginning of the captive breeding program for the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf into their native habitat in the United States.
The first litter of Mexican wolves born in captivity occurred in 1978 at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. As of April 1, 1992 the captive population consists of 42 Mexican wolves: 32 wolves at nine facilities in the United States and 10 wolves at three facilities in Mexico.
The San Andres Mountains to the west of White Sands National Monument have been chosen as one of the sites for the reintroduction of the Mexican wolf. These mountains are surrounded by White Sands Missile Range, are closed to public access, and have little or no domesticated livestock raised in the immediate area. These conditions make this area one of the most ideal sites in North America for the reestablishment of the Mexican wolf.