Mexican wolf management needs transparency in methods and data to support policy decisions

Abstract

Abstract Mexican wolves ( Canis lupus baileyi) , an endangered subspecies of grey wolves, were extirpated in the Southwest United States by the 1970s. Since 1998, reintroduced Mexican wolves have been listed as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. A recent analysis by Breck and others of the factors affecting Mexican wolf recovery, searched for correlates of population growth rate, mortality and illegal killing and concluded that releases of captive‐bred adult wolves should be minimized. This policy recommendation is compromised by several shortcomings including: (i) the use of time periods not consistent with policy implementation and termination dates, (ii) the authors' choice to include, or exclude, data in their analyses that do not align with publicly available agency data, (iii) unclear or unexplained methodological decisions and (iv) a failure to consider the genetic consequences their recommendations can have on long‐term recovery. Synthesis and applications : These methodological shortcomings (omissions in the interpretation of policy periods, lack of clarity on data inclusion and exclusion, and unclear use of and changes to a referenced model, as well as an insufficient consideration of Mexican wolves' genetic diversity) raise questions about the validity of the resulting management recommendations. While democratic, participatory and transparent processes are needed for fostering coexistence between Mexican wolves and people, recommending reductions in approaches that enhance genetic diversity in this endangered population seems premature without stronger supporting evidence.

Affiliated Institutions

• University of Wisconsin–Madison US
• Northern Arizona University US
• Southwest Watershed Research Center US

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