Bryan Bird, the Southwest program director of the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, believes that F2754’s journey may be driven by the wolf’s search for a mate, suggesting that it might find one in Colorado.
He points out that this event serves as a clear indication that wolves could once again roam from the northern Rockies in Canada to the Sierra of Mexico if given the opportunity, promoting a more interconnected and robust wolf population.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the wolf’s expansion into new territories. Ranchers in New Mexico and Arizona have long expressed concerns about wolves, attributing livestock deaths to their presence.
They worry about the potential consequences of further range expansion and urge caution among residents who may encounter Mexican gray wolves.
Positive population trends
Loren Patterson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, stressed the need for vigilance, especially in rural areas, to protect vulnerable children, pets, and livestock.
