Lesson 10:Saving the Mexican Wolves

The group also had to find just the right place to releasethe wolves. This particular place would need to be large enoughfor the wolves to roam, yet not too near people and livestock.Finally it was decided that the wolves would be released onnational forest land in Arizona and New Mexico. This regionwas named the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area.In 1998, 22 years after the wild wolves were brought to theUnited States from Mexico, officials decided it was time torelease some wolves back into the wild. Eleven captive Mexicanwolves were brought to the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area.The wolves were not turned loose immediately. They were keptin large pens for several weeks. This helped them get used totheir new environment. Wildlife workers watched over thewolves during this period.The workers planned to keep track of the wolves after theirrelease, as well. A team of scientists, conservationists, and otherswould use a variety of methods to detect the wolves’ movementswhile remaining unobserved themselves. Wolves are naturallycontent to keep away from people, and it was important thatthey stay that way.In March of 1998, the first eleven wolves were released.Unfortunately, five of the wolves were shot within the year.Residents and ranchers still felt that they and their animalswere in danger.13