Mexican wolf visits New Mexico park for the first time in 91 years

A rare and endangered Mexican wolf visited the Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez Springs for the first time in 91 years, according to park officials.

The female wolf named Asha, formally identified as F2754, reportedly traveled north from the “Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area” and reached the nature preserve on Nov. 11. Asha wandered around the Jemez Mountains before returning to the park, making her the first Mexican wolf to visit the nature preserve since 1932.

“We were thrilled to see the brief visit of a wolf to this landscape,” said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “The park’s ecosystem used to be home to Mexican wolf. The elevation, abundant rainfall, mixed conifer forests, and deep rich soils make the park an ideal place to support a great diversity of animals, including wolves. Today, the park and surrounding region has a couple thousand elk and healthy populations of mountain lions, bears and coyotes.”

On the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, Valles Caldera National Preserve celebrated a brief visit from Asha.

Asha was captured on Dec. 9 by New Mexico Game and Fish officials near Coyote, New Mexico, and they returned her to the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility.

“Our decision to capture F2754 was made out of concern for her safety and well-being,” said Brady McGee, Mexican Wolf Recovery coordinator. “Dispersal events like this are often in search of a mate. As there are no other known wolves in the area, she was unlikely to be successful and risked being mistaken for a coyote and shot. By pairing her with a carefully selected mate in captivity, we are hoping she will breed and have pups this spring. The best outcome for her is to be released back into the wild, where she and her offspring can contribute to Mexican wolf recovery.”

Asha was documented leaving the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in late October 2023. She spent several weeks moving between the San Pedro Mountains and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. After showing no signs of returning to the Mexican Wolf Experimental Area, the decision was made to capture Asha before breeding season began.