The Mexican gray wolf is an essential part of restoring ecological health to New Mexico’s wilderness. As the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America, its presence in the state’s landscapes is a testament to both the resilience of nature and the ongoing effort to correct past mistakes, where eradication campaigns nearly wiped them out entirely. Wolves are an apex predator, meaning they naturally regulate prey populations, which in turn revitalizes plant communities and landscapes.

Today, the wolves’ recovery is fragile. The wild population, now at 286 individuals, faces a genetic crisis from its small founding population and still faces persistent threats like illegal killing and political opposition, which often hinder science-based management.

In addition to advocating for wolf recovery, we support these critically endangered animals by protecting and defending the wild places they need to survive and thrive.