ABQ BioPark Hosts Wolf Awareness Days Oct 21-23

Come to the ABQ BioPark Zoo to participate in Wolf Awareness Days on October 21, 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn about Mexican gray wolf conservation in New Mexico through interactive discovery stations showcasing hides and bones, mask and craft-making and educational games. On Saturday, October 22, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service experts will provide posters, handouts and information.

The Mexican gray wolf was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1976, and captive breeding programs around the southwest have attempted to re-establish wild populations.

“Wolves play a critical role in our environment as major predators, helping to keep elk and deer populations in balance with the habitat,” said Megan Lanigan, Zoo Education Coordinator. “In the early 1900s, people began eliminating wolves, which caused an increase in grazing pressure on trees, destroying the habitat in some areas.”

Visitors to the Zoo can see three of the BioPark’s Mexican gray wolves on exhibit. Mariposa, Scarlet and Nanook, all females, display some of the complex social behaviors of wolves in the wild. Wolves have a hierarchical structure to their packs, and Scarlet is the dominant wolf at the BioPark.

Wolf Awareness Days are included with regular admission.