Case 3: Mexican Wolf Recovery

Mexican Wolf Recovery: Innovation, Partnership, and Acceptance in the Southwest

May 19 - 23, 2025 | Rural Eastern AZ

By 1973, the once wide-ranging Mexican wolf had become functionally extinct in the Southwest with less than 10 individuals believed remaining in remote parts of Arizona, New Mexico and south of the Mexican border. In 1976 the Mexican wolf was listed as endangered and a binational captive breeding program began. By 1998, the first captive wolves were released into their former home range. Today, more than 60 packs have been documented including 26 breeding pairs. This recovery has been marked by uncertainty and turbulence as well as by partnership, and experimentation in a context of significant social and environmental challenges. In late May, we’ll travel to rural eastern Arizona and western New Mexico to hear from policy leaders, biologists, land managers, affected communities and the interagency field team responsible for the recovery to hear their insights about leadership, partnership, tolerance and innovation across state and international boundaries.