Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)

The Mexican Wolf

The Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the only subspecies of the gray wolf that is officially recognized. The population of all gray wolves, including the Mexican Gray Wolf, has been severely reduced, and these wolves have been hunted and killed to extinction in the wild. Because of the hunting of elk and deer by early settlers, wolves were forced to hunt livestock and were, therefore, killed by ranchers. Recent efforts, however, have allowed these wolves to once again roam free in areas outside of zoos.

Mexican Gray Wolves are native to southern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and central Mexico. Now, however, the Mexican Gray Wolf can only be found in zoos and a wolf sanctuary in eastern Arizona in the Apache National Forest. It is estimated that there are about 100 wolves living today with about 30 of them living in the wild. The Mexican Gray Wolf has not been seen in Mexico since 1980. Wolf packs are very territorial with the boundaries marked by scent and howling.

About the size of a large dog, the Mexican Gray Wolf stands about 26-32 inches (66-81 cm) and is about 54-65 inches (137-165 cm) long. They typically weigh about 50-90 pounds (22-40 kg), and the males are typically bigger than the females. They are covered with fur that is mixed in color, with tan, reddish-brown, gray, and black, and their long tails are black tipped. The muzzle is relatively short and thick, slightly pointed, and they have long legs and relatively big feet.

Mexican Gray Wolves are carnivorous hunters. Deer seem to be their natural prey, and they are often fed roadkill in captivity. They will also eat large mammals like elk and cows and smaller mammals, such as rabbits and mice. They hunt by chasing their prey with the whole pack working together to guide and ambush the animal. They have extremely well-developed senses of smell and hearing, and these help the animals when they are hunting.

Interesting Fact: Wolves will often begin hunting in early evening, and the chase can often last until the early hours of morning.

Mexican Gray Wolves, like other wolf species, travel and live in packs that are led by a mated pair, their offspring, and other assorted adults that are not allowed to reproduce. The mated, alpha, wolves are the only reproductive wolves in the pack. Wolves mate for life and breed only once a year, giving birth in the spring. The gestational period is about 60 days, and the female will then give birth to a litter that ranges from 4-6 baby wolf pups. The young are then nursed constantly for about six to eight weeks. During this time, the alpha male will deliver food to his mate, and the other adults in the pack will help take care of the pups, regurgitating their own food to feed the young. Pups start to follow their parents on hunts at about three months of age.

The pack of the Mexican Gray Wolf is very complex with several different hierarchies all topped by the alpha, mated pair. Howls are unique to each wolf, and they are used to announce a pack’s presence in a territory to other wolves and to bind the pack together. When two wolves greet each other, the more dominant wolf sits upright while the subordinate wolf crouches at the other’s feet.

Further Information on the Mexican Gray Wolf:

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Bibliography:
Gray Wolf. Encarta Encyclopedia, © 2000.
Southwest Region Ecological Services. Accessed 08/20/04 at http://ifw2es.fws.gov/mexicanwolf/FAQ.cfm
Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). Accessed 08/20/04 at http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Mexican_Gray_Wolf.asp
(Canis lupus baileyi). Accessed 08/20/04 at http://www.southwestwildlife.org/factsheets/mgwolf.htm.