Help restore Mexican wolves in the Southwest

We need your help to bring the sound of wolves howling back to the Southwest. Here are some things you can do. To help you, we've listed some talking points you can use below.

1. Call Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (202-208-7351) and urge him to develop a new recovery plan for Mexican wolves. A recovery plan is a blueprint for conservation actions needed to bring a species back from the edge of extinction.

2. Send an email to your Congressional representatives. If you live in southern New Mexico, you can use this form. If you live elsewhere, find your Congressional representatives here.

3. Write a letter to the editor voicing your support for Mexican wolves. Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is an excellent way to raise awareness about the Mexican gray wolf situation. It shows public officials that you support the restoration program and expect that they will, too.

4. Tell a friend. Do you know someone who thinks wolves are "unnecessary" or "no longer part of the West"? Take this opportunity to let that someone around you know that wolves (and other predators) are critical to the balance of healthy ecosystems. Not sure what to say? Read this article on Why Top Predators Matter.

5. Stay informed by signing up for our email alerts.

6. Support our work by making a donation today.

Talking Points

Feel free to adapt these talking points for the above actions.

• Mexican wolves are top predators and play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature in Southwestern ecosystems.
• There were only 58 Mexican wolves in the wild at the end of 2011, making it one of the most endangered animals on earth. Immediate action is needed to prevent the extinction of the Mexican wolf in the wild for a second time.
• Mexican wolves need a new recovery plan. The current plan is 30 years old, written before the principles of modern conservation biology were developed and lacking numerical goals for defining recovery.