The chronology below provides an overview of significant events related to the Mexican wolf recovery program.
This information will be updated as needed.
| Pre-1970 |
Mexican wolves extirpated from the Southwestern US by private, state, and
government control campaigns. |
| 1976 |
Mexican wolf listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. |
| 1977-1980 |
5 wolves captured in Mexico to establish a captive breeding program. |
| 1979 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forms Mexican Wolf Recovery Team. |
| 1982 |
Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan completed; contains goal of maintaining a captive
breeding program and re-establishment of 100 wolves within their historic range. |
| 1990 |
Wolf Action Group files suit against U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service alleging
failure to implement the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. |
| 1990 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hires a Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator to
implement recovery of the species. |
| 1992 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Experimental Reintroduction of Mexican Wolves into Suitable
Habitat within the Historic Range of the Subspecies. |
| 1995 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases draft EIS. |
| 1996 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes proposed Mexican wolf experimental
population rule in the Federal Register. |
| 1996 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases Final EIS entitled: “Reintroduction
of the Mexican Wolf within its Historic Range in the Southwestern United States.” |
| 1997 |
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt issues Record of Decision on the Final
EIS and selected the Preferred Alternative: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reintroduce captive-raised
Mexican wolves in eastern Arizona within the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA). Released wolves and
their offspring are designated a nonessential population and will be allowed to colonize the entire BRWRA.
If necessary and feasible, White Sands Missile Range could be used as a back-up area. |
| 1998 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes the Mexican Wolf Final Rule (Establishment
of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Gray Wolf in Arizona and New Mexico) in the Federal
Register. |
| 1998 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases the first Mexican wolves into the wild
in the BRWRA. |
| 1998 |
New Mexico Cattle Growers Association et. al., file suit against U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service alleging violations of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA),
and Administrative Procedures Act (APA) in authorizing and implementing the Mexican wolf reintroduction
project. |
| 1999 |
Courts rule U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service complied with NEPA, ESA, and APA;
lawsuit is dismissed. |
| 2000 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepares an Environmental Assessment for Translocation
of Mexican Wolves Throughout the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in Arizona and New Mexico. |
| 2000 |
First Mexican wolves translocated into the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. |
| 2001 |
Pursuant to the Final Rule, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completes the 3-Year Review.
Scientists recommend program should continue but with modifications. |
| 2001 |
Congress directs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct an independent review of
the 3-Year Review. Outcome of the independent review (completed by States of Arizona and New Mexico September
2002) determines the need to restore the States role in the Mexican wolf recovery program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service begins developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with program partners to restructure the Mexican
wolf program with the States and Tribes. |
| 2002 |
White Mountain Apache Tribe enters into a cooperative agreement with U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to allow wolves to inhabit the Reservation. |
| 2002 |
Coalition of Arizona and New Mexico Counties, et al. file a 60-day Notice of Intent
for violations of NEPA, ESA, and APA alleging Mexican wolves are hybridizing with domestic dogs. |
| 2002 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discovers a hybrid litter of Mexican wolves; pups
euthanized. |
| 2002 |
San Carlos Apache Tribe passes resolution to remove all Mexican wolves from the
Reservation. |
| 2003 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassifies the gray wolf into 3 Distinct Population
Segments. Mexican wolves maintain classification as endangered or non-essential and became part of the Southwestern
Distinct Population Segment. |
| 2003 |
Coalition of Arizona and New Mexico Counties et al., files suit regarding the 2002 Notice
of Intent alleging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 1) failed to consider the impacts of hybridization; 2) failed
to prepare a supplemental EIS; and 3) violated FOIA by improperly withholding documents. |
| 2003 |
San Carlos Apache Tribe enters into a cooperative agreement with U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service for wolf monitoring and management to include removal. |
| 2003 |
The first release of a pack of Mexican wolves occurs on White Mountain Apache Tribe. |
| 2003 |
Defenders of Wildlife et al., files suit against U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding
the Gray Wolf Reclassification Rule. |
| 2003 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service appoints and convenes the Southwestern Distinct Population
Segment Gray Wolf Recovery Team to begin recovery planning for the newly established Southwestern Distinct Population
Segment. This recovery plan will supersede the 1982 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. |
| 2003 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalizes the MOU with Arizona Game and Fish Department,
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, USDA-Forest Service, White Mountain Apache Tribe,
New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and several counties. The MOU restructures the Mexican wolf recovery program to
allow the States and Tribes to implement the BRWRA reintroduction project while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
maintains responsibilities for recovery. The MOU establishes an Adaptive Management Oversight Committee (AMOC) and an
Adaptive Management Working Group (AMWG). |
| 2004 |
Pursuant to the Final Rule, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and AMOC cooperators begin the Mexican
Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 5-Year Review; draft reports released to public for review and comment in
December. |
| 2005 |
Courts rule in favor of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Arizona and New Mexico
Coalition of Counties, et al., hybrid lawsuit; lawsuit dismissed. |
| 2005 |
Court enjoins and vacates the 2003 Reclassification Rule; the ruling negates the 3
previously established DPS’s including the Southwestern DPS. Recovery planning for the Mexican wolf is put on
hold. |
| 2005 |
Arizona and New Mexico Coalition of Counties, et. al., file for appeal regarding the
hybrid lawsuit. |
| 2005 |
The AMOC completes the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 5-Year Review and
submits to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for consideration. Included are a set of 37 recommendations for
improving management of the Blue Range wolf reintroduction project, many of which would require a change to the
Final Rule. |
