On June 10th I was very fortunate to see one of the six Mexican wolf pups born at the Zoo on April 20. Four of them were successfully placed in wild dens to be raised by their surrogate parents as part of a cross-fostering conservation effort. As you read this they are growing up with their wild families in the wilderness of Arizona and New Mexico bringing hope for the species and nature’s balance. The remaining two pups stayed with their pack at the Zoo. It was a monumental conservation achievement for our community, the Zoo and the City of El Paso.

Few people visiting us over the summer were able to see our wolves because of a natural behavior that was largely beyond our control. No one knows for sure if it was the intense late spring early summer heat or the fact that they were very protective of their pups, but for nearly 4 months after I took pictures of the pups they spent their days in a small earthen den that they dug in the far edge of the exhibit away from public view. Every night they would come out to eat and roam their zoo habitat and with the exception of our security guards, few people saw them. We could have intervened, but if we did it we could have given them unnecessary stress.

Recently our keepers were able to enter the wolf exhibit and cover up the den that was keeping them from view. They still have plenty of hiding places including dens that were built into the exhibit. As a result you can now come to the zoo and see our wolf pack throughout the day. Like in the wild they are most active early in the morning when the Zoo first opens at 9:30 am and right before we close in the afternoon. Be sure to watch for them and enjoy the experience of seeing a part of our natural heritage that many people hope will someday be once again be a part of the Texas landscape.

Rick LoBello, Education Curator

Five month old wolf pup is almost adult size