Tenth Annual Mexican Gray Wolf Pup Naming Contest Results
It is our pleasure to announce the winners of our Tenth Annual Mexican Gray Wolf Pup Naming Contest!
Students from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade participated in our annual Pup Naming Contest either as individuals or in teams. More than 100 contestants from around the world submitted entries that included art or essays along with the names the contestants chose.
From these entries, 12 names have been selected as winners to name the pups that were documented and radio collared by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team in 2021.
An additional 5 names were selected for the pups born in 2021 to the Seco Creek pack. The Seco Creek pups are not currently collared, but their family is being threatened by politics, so we are monitoring their situation very closely and wanted to honor them with names that celebrate their important contributions to Mexican wolf conservation. You can read more about the Seco Creek wolf family here.
Another 13 names were selected as runners up. These names will be assigned to pups if and when additional pups are radio collared. The remaining entries all received honorable mentions.
Giving a name to a wolf pup is a way to honor that wolf as an individual with a special story to tell. Wolves are more than just numbers, and we want to celebrate the unique journeys that each wild wolf will have.
Once again, our judges are inspired by all of the amazing entries we received! We know the future of wild lobos is in good hands with all our young conservations watching over them.
Our thanks goes out to all of you!
Names Assigned to Collared Pups in 2021
Wild Wonder
Hoodoo Pack
male pup 2602
Submitted by Ariadne
1st Grade
Luna Flower
Hoodoo Pack
female pup 2603
Submitted by Aiden Hemphill
Pre-K
Stella
Saffel Pack
female pup 2694
submitted by Janie G.
1st Grade
Juniper
Mangas Pack
male pup 2687
submitted by Asa Massatti
2nd Grade
Yamaki
Slade Pack
female pup 2691
submitted by Yaya B.
3rd Grade
Ornella
Owl Canyon Pack
female pup 2588
submitted by Séraphine G.-F.
5th grade
Manitou
Owl Canyon Pack
female pup 2589
submitted by Jesphira Jones
5th Grade
Azai
Owl Canyon Pack
male pup 2590
submitted by the Straube Brothers
3rd and 5th Grade
Hatarini
Owl Canyon Pack
female pup 2593
submitted by Tessa Kim
7th Grade
Maska
Point of Rocks Pack
female pup 2688
submitted by Chloe Hao
7th Grade
Nantl’ah Lightfoot
Point of Rocks Pack
male pup 2689
submitted by Kalla L., Dane Bolke, Teagan McCumber
7th Grade
Fenris
San Mateo Pack
male pup 2636
submitted by Ethan Bartlett
7th Grade
Names Assigned to the Seco Creek Pack – These names are ALSO considered winners and are a special case for this year’s contest! The Seco Creek pups are not radio collared, but you can read more about their family and why we are watching them closely here.
Saguaro
Seco Creek Pack
submitted by Harrison Straube
3rd Grade
Arawn
Seco Creek Pack
submitted by Asher A.
7th Grade
Cielo
Seco Creek Pack
submitted by Faelyn Murray
Kindergarten
Zoe
Seco Creek Pack
submitted by Sydney P.
7th Grade
Luna
Seco Creek Pack
Submitted by Jonathan
3rd Grade
Runner-Ups
These names may be assigned to future collared pups born in 2021. Click the wolf pup name to see the entry.
Batādoggu– submitted by Simon T., James R., and friends, 7th Grade
Claw Strike– submitted by Summer B., Kindergarten
Gran Guerrero– submitted by Elaina Eckert, 5th Grade
Howls– submitted by Huck J., 2nd Grade
Juneau– submitted by Julian L., 7th Grade
Sakari– submitted by Cari U., 3rd Grade
Saltar– submitted by Ruth Glassman, 3rd Grade
See– submitted by Andrei L., Kindergarten
Supersiti– submitted by Oliver C. & Cameron Brown, 7th Grade
Wonder– submitted by Ayhan Solouki, 5th Grade
Woofers– submitted by Leif J, 2nd Grade
Honorable Mentions
Akela- submitted by Alexis S., 7th Grade
Akila- submitted by Davey S., 3rd Grade
Alfie- submitted by Mysha Butt, 4th Grade
Alfreeda, submitted by Mysha Butt, 4th Grade
Ash- submitted by Gabi Re’, 3rd Grade
Aspen- submitted by M.J. Messmer, 3rd Grade
Balto- submitted by Allison Parzych, 3rd Grade
Cherry- submitted by Olivia Chaidez, 3rd Grade
Dream- submitted by Rhiannon Golden, 8th Grade
Especial- submitted by Cam Abood, 3rd Grade
Fenrir- submitted by Greta C., 3rd Grade
Fenrir- submitted by Emma Hively, 7th Grade
Fang- submitted by Elle B., 3rd Grade
Forest- submitted by Tyson Nowicki, 7th Grade
Glory- submitted by Jax Hope, 3rd Grade
Graylie- submitted by Tyler Feldman, 3rd Grade
Hunter- submitted by Anik P., 3rd Grade
Isaiah- submitted by Wolf Lover, 6th Grade
Kylie- submitted by Aliaksei Karaliou, 3rd Grade
Leap- submitted by Savannah Stevenson, 3rd Grade
Lightening- submitted by Caroline Delano, 4th Grade
Lluvia- submitted by Arden P., 5th Grade
Maple-submitted by Kamren Abbott, 4th Grade
Mebh- submitted by Greta C., 3rd Grade
Nightingale- submitted by MacKenna L. Bergevin, 3rd Grade
Nuez- submitted by Laura Souccar, 3rd Grade
Pyro- submitted by Makoa Bowen, Evelyn Fisher, and friend, 7th Grade
Rainbow- submitted by Rhiannon Golden, 8th Grade
Richo- submitted by Dane K., 3rd Grade
Sage- submitted by Lauren S., 4th Grade
Sapnap- submitted by Rhiannon Golden, 8th Grade
Sienna- submitted by Isabella S., 4th Grade
Silver- submitted by Chad O. and Eric Pierson, 7th Grade
Songspirit- submitted by Leah Horney, 4th Grade
Tahoe- submitted by Adam Kunimoto, 3rd Grade
Tormenta- submitted by Riddick Eckert, 3rd Grade
Valentina- submitted by Scarlett Layton, 3rd Grade
Wolfie- submitted by Theresa Bennis, 6th Grade
You can view all of the entries here:
