Mexican wolf numbers are up

Last week, the Arizona and New Mexico game and fish departments announced the wild Mexican wolf population grew for the ninth consecutive year — the longest continuous growth streak since the species was reintroduced into the wild in 1988.

Why it matters: The Mexican wolf is the most endangered wolf species in the world and nearly went extinct in the 1970s due to trapping, hunting and poisoning to protect livestock.

By the numbers: Researchers documented 286 Mexican wolves during their 2024 population census, up from 257 the year prior.

• More than 120 were located in eastern Arizona. The others were in western New Mexico.

The intrigue: Conservation groups celebrated the continued population growth, but bemoaned some of the government's management strategies including the current boundary that keeps wolves from traveling north of Interstate 40 in Arizona.