Which wolf subspecies is found in Mexico and the southwestern United States?

The wolf subspecies found in Mexico and the southwestern United States is the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). Also called the lobo mexicano, it is the southernmost and one of the most distinctive gray-wolf subspecies in North America.

Today, wild Mexican wolves occur mainly in eastern and southeastern Arizona, western and southern New Mexico, and fragmented areas of northern Mexico. Their historical range was broader, extending through parts of western Texas and into areas of the Southwest. They inhabit forested mountain landscapes and feed largely on deer and other medium-sized animals.

The Mexican wolf was driven close to extinction by hunting, trapping, poisoning, and predator-control campaigns connected with livestock ranching. It was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1976, and the last known wild founders were captured in Mexico between 1977 and 1980 for a captive-breeding program.

Reintroduction began in Arizona and New Mexico in 1998. The Mexican wolf is often confused with the larger Plains or Mackenzie Valley wolves, but its smaller body, narrow skull, and darker, variable coat help distinguish it.