The Mexican Grey Wolf

THE MEXICAN GREY WOLF The scientific name for the Mexican Grey Wolf is also known as Canis lupus baileyi or the Spanish name Lobo. The Mexican Grey Wolf became an endangered species in 1973. This is when the endangered species act was passed, which provided protection. When the wolves came into conflict with humans killing the owners livestock the government became involved and created an exterminating campaign to rid the wolves. Humans also encroached into wolf territory causing wolves to lose their natural ability to produce and make their habitat strong. This is what led them to become endangered species. Grey Wolves are canines with long bushy tails that are black tipped. Their color is a mix of gray, and brown or black. Their facial markings are usually buffy, they look like German Shepherds. The Wolves have a larger head, narrow chest, and longer legs compared to the German Shepherds. Currently today there are over 50 breeding facilities across the United States and Mexico. Professional biologists and other wildlife facilities helped create this program in order to save this breed of animals. As of July 2008, there were over 327 Mexican Grey Wolves living in 47 captive wolf breeding holding facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, many of which are Zoos. Thanks to the reintroduction of wolves in 1995, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most favored places to see and hear wolves in the native habitat. Wolves like to travel in packs of at least 4 animals on average. Packs include mother and father wolves and pups. They like to stick together and produce strong social bonds, they are very family oriented and protect their own, and they may even sacrifice their own lives in order to save another life. Mating season in usually in the months of January & February, their gestation is 63 days and average between 4-7 pups. When the pups are born, the pack will care for them until they mature at about 10 months of age. Wolves usually eat ungulates, or large hoofed mammals, like elk, deer, moose and caribou. They also eat small prey consisting of beaver, rabbits, they are also known to be scavengers and often eat animals that have died of starvation or diseases. Ghosts of the Southwest, Author, Mark MacAllister http://www.azprogress.org/sites/default/files/content/mexican%20gray%20wolf.jpg May 1, 2013 Photo http://www.fieldtripearth.org/article.xml?id=1112 May 1, 2013 When did the Grey Wolf become endangered, Author, Katherine Hartman, eHow Contributor http://www.ehow.com/info_8652539_did-gray-wolf-become-endangered.html May 1, 2013 Grey Wolf, Author, Larry Schwiger Photo http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Gray-Wolf.aspx May 1, 2013 Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf May 1, 2013 Los Angeles Times, author, Steve Marble http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-now-live-chat-gray-wolves-20130425,0,1647566.story May 1, 2013 Photo, Dawn Villella, AP http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-now-live-chat-gray-wolves-20130425,0,1647566.story May 1, 2013 Lobos of the Southwest, Author, Phil Carter Photo http://www.mexicanwolves.org/index.php/captive-breeding May 2, 2013 Defenders of wildlife, Author, John Eastcott, National Geographic’s Photo http://www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts May 2, 2013