Mexican Gray Wolf Essay

Introduction

Origin:

The focus of this management plan will be on a subspecies of the gray wolf, commonly known as the Mexican gray wolf and scientifically as Canis lupus baileyi (Wikipedia 2). Another name for the Mexican gray wolf is “the lobo” and this species originates from North America. In the United States, it is native to southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas. It is also native to the northern region of Mexico (Wikipedia 2).

Description:

Of the gray wolves in North America, the Mexican gray wolf is the smallest in size (Wikipedia 2). According to (Wikipedia 3), it is most similar to the Great Plains wolf, also known as Canis lupus nubilus. What distinguishes them is the size of their skull and color of their

pelt. The Mexican gray wolf has a darker pelt that is yellowish grey. It also has black coloring over its back and tail. The Mexican gray wolf’s skull is very narrow and small compared to Canis lupus nubile (Wiki 3).
Mexican wolves are approximately the size of a German shepherds weighing anywhere from fifty to eighty five pounds.

They have a great sense of smell as well as acute hearing. Their vision is also very sensitive. Their legs are long and their bodies are sleek. These physical traits, along with the fact they are digitigrade (animals that run on their digits) animals, allows them to be fast runners (Mexicanaolvesorg).

Conservation Status:

Most of the native Mexican gray wolves originated and exist in the southwest region of the United States. In the beginning, when the United States was being colonized, European settlers began hunting the prey of Mexican gray wolves for sport as well as for market gain. After continuous years of hunting deer and elk, they eventually depleted the majority of Mexican wolves’ food source (Mexicanolvesorg).

The settlers brought with them many cattle and sheep which damaged the habitat due to overgrazing. Since the Mexican wolves had no more natural prey, they turned to cattle and sheep as their target prey and main food source

(Mexicanolvesorg).
As cattle and sheep were continuously attacked by Mexican wolves, the livestock industry started to pressure the U.S.

Biological Survey, the former name of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to exterminate the Mexican wolves. From 1915 to 1935, the U.S. Biological Survey reported that approximately 900 Mexican wolves were killed by hunting and poisoning. However, many of the wolves that were poisoned by laced carcasses were not reported so the number is most likely higher than 900 (Mexicanolvesorg).

This extermination method continued from 1940 to 1970. The last three wolves were killed in 1970. The U.S. government also sent experts to Mexico to teach them how to exterminate Mexican wolves. The methods worked because ever since 1980, no Mexican wolves have been seen in Mexico. The U.S. Biological Survey continued to exterminate wolves that attacked cattle and sheep at the farmers’ requests (Mexicanolvesorg).

Finally, in 1973, the United States government passed the Endangered Species Act. In 1976, the FWS labeled the Mexican gray wolf as an endangered species. Then, in 1977, the FWS began efforts to save the Mexican gray wolf from extinction. (FWS 9). Today, the gray wolf is the most endangered mammal in North America. The Mexican gray wolf is also the most endangered subspecies of the gray wolf in the world.

(Mexicanolvesorg)

Habitat:
As mentioned before, Mexican wolves are usually found in southwestern United States. A common misconceptions is that they tend to dwell in low deserts. Their usual habitats, however, are mountain woodlands. (THE REASON THEY CHOOSe thist type of habitat is most likely because mountain woodlands provide cover, water, and prey all at the same time (FWS 9).

Food Chain:
Mexican wolves TEND TO eat animals that are much bigger than them in size. (IN ORDER TO PURSUE SUCH LARGE ANIMALS, THEY HUNT IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER WOLVES. To do this they hunt in cooperation and bring down the animal together. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE They HAVE IS BEING ABLE to chase their prey over large distances. (FWS 9).
There are a couple of factors, according to FWS, that influence the hunting behavior and hunting strategies of Mexican wolves. These factors include terrain, prey size, and prey availability. (FWS 9).
The most common prey for Mexican wolves is “elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina, rabbits, and other small mammals.” They are also known to “scavenge on carcasses of prey species.” Their only predators are humans. (FWS 9).
Mexican wolves are also known as sorters or sifters. This is because they hunt on the weak, old, and sick of the prey population. This results in a stronger gene pool for the prey population and consequently a healthier population.
Another important role of the Mexican gray wolf and wolves in general, is that they help control ecosystems. One of the most commonly studied trophic cascades is the Wolf-Elk-Aspen cascade. Wolves hunt elk which overgraze and destroy animal habitats dependent on vegetation such as Aspen trees (DEF 1).
Digestive System:
Sources on the Mexican gray wolf digestive system all lead to gray wolves so it is assumed that they are similar enough for the purpose of this management plan. Gray wolves’ “DIGESTIVE SYSTEM” are large and simple. This STRUCTURE is better suited for storing food instead of quickly digesting it. Since prey availability fluctuates and is unpredictable, wolves must eat as much as they can when they can. They can eat up to twenty pounds of food in one feeding session.
The gray wolf’s small intestine is where much of digestion occurs. Fats are broken down by bile that is secreted from their significantly large liver and hair and bones of prey are excreted. Interestingly enough, wolves can go up to two weeks without food while looking for prey. (Montgomery).
Reproduction:
Within packs, there are adult male and female that are paired for mating purposes. The alpha male and alpha female is paired ,USUALLY MONOGAMOUS, and iS usually monogamous and is ARE the only ones who breed in the pack. Usually, Mexican wolves will breed in February and give birth in April or early May. Their gestation period is sixty three days and they USUALLY give birth to anywhere from four to six pups (FWS 9).