Seven endangered wolf pups born near Julian

Mexican Gray Wolves now total about 400 thanks to breeding programs, including California Wolf Center in San Diego County

By Joshua Emerson Smith | June 28, 2016

A Mexican Gray Wolf pup roams in the captive breeding program at the California Wolf Center outside of Julian. It's one of seven in a litter born on May 8, 2016. — California Wolf Center

By the 1970s, the Mexican Gray Wolf had nearly disappeared from the face of the planet — aggressively hunted by trappers, shot down by government officials and ranchers. However, decades of breeding and release programs have given the wolves a second chance.
In the latest sign this endangered subspecies of the gray wolf could be mounting a comeback, the California Wolf Center south of Julian announced yesterday that seven pups were recently born and survived the first weeks of life. The litter of three females and four males passed their first health checkup this week.
“For seven pups to be born at our center is a huge jump in the population,” said Erin Hunt, director of operations at California Wolf Center.
“We nearly lost this subspecies so we’re trying to help them to recover, which we’ve only been able to do because of the captive breeding program,” she added.

Adult Mexican Gray wolves at the California Wolf Center. / photo courtesy of California Wolf Center

Considered one of the planet’s rarest land mammals, there are about 400 Mexican Gray Wolves alive today. Most of the animals live in breeding programs in the United States and Mexico, with only 97 roaming in the wild, primarily in Arizona and New Mexico.

The wolves are an integral part of natural ecosystems. They prevent overgrazing by keeping animals like deer on the move, as well as benefit birds and other scavengers that eat the leftover remains from prey the wolves consume.

Wolves have a leisurely trot but can sprint at up to 35 miles an hour. While hunting for food, wolves travel dozens of miles a day. They have powerful jaws that can crush large bones with a few bites.

Founded in 1977, the center has raised more than a dozen litters of Mexican Gray Wolfs and released one pack of the endangered animal into the wild. The center is located on 45 acres east of Highway 79 south of Julian and is surrounded by double-perimeter fencing to prevent the leaping wolves from escaping.

The nonprofit anticipates releasing its second wolf pack by next spring to the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in Arizona and New Mexico. That integration plan is contingent on approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The newly born pups and their parents could also be candidates for integration into the wild within a few years.

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