The Mexican Wolf

Far out in the mountains and forests of the American Southwest lives one of the rarest wolves on Earth: the Mexican wolf.

More specifically, this is the home of Luna, a young Mexican wolf who loves being part of a pack even if she secretly longs for some new blood. 

One night, Luna hears a howl echoing through a canyon and becomes convinced she’s discovered another wolf pack. But as Luna continues exploring the mysterious canyon, she discovers something surprising about echoes, loneliness, and hope.

Join Carie, Lincoln, and Eliza as they explore the wild world of the Mexican wolf, also known as el lobo.

Kids will discover:

• How wolves use howls to communicate across long distances
• What Mexican wolf packs are like 
• How wolves are built to hunt 
• Why Mexican wolves nearly disappeared from the wild

Keep exploring:

• Download a Mexican wolf coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Show us your coloring sheet or request an animal: wildandkindkidspod@gmail.com
• Sign up for email updates

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Mexican Gray Wolf (Wildlife Science Center) 
• Mexican Wolf (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens) 
• Conserving the Mexican Wolf (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) 
• Mexican Wolf (Columbus Zoo & Aquarium)

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back. Wait, did you hear that? Or what? That tiny noise. Shh. Okay, let's listen. Let's be really, really quiet and just focus on what we can hear.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

I don't heal anything. Me either.

SPEAKER_02 0:17

Okay, so you don't hear that cricket moving through the grass outside.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

No. No way.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Well, let's have everyone try. Okay, even you listeners, let's take a moment and just listen. So I'm gonna tell us when to go, and afterwards, I want you to shout out wherever you are the quietest thing that you just heard. Like, what's the sound you really had to stretch to hear? All right, you ready? So we're gonna be quiet for a minute and listen. Go. Okay. Shout it out. What did you hear?

SPEAKER_01 0:54

A pizza, a chicken. I don't know if you heard a chicken, but a chicken.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

So let's shout out something you might have actually heard.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Like I heard some lame out sign.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Me too. Nice. Those were kind of quiet things and sort of factual. So I gotta say though, I don't think your hearing is as good as today's animal. Because they have amazing hearing. I'm talking, they can hear sounds from miles away. Tiny movements nearby, even pitches that our human ears can't pick up. Let's get learning. I'm Carrie, and I grew up on a zoo.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

I'm Lincoln. I'm Eliza. And we're wild about animals. Welcome to the Wild and Kind Kids Podcast.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Hey Lincoln and Eliza. Hi, Mom. Today we have another listener request. Our listener Willa suggested that we cover the Mexican gray wolf.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Hi, Willa. Great idea, Willa.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Yeah, I have to admit, I know a little bit about wolves. We used to have a pair at the zoo when I grew up, but the Mexican wolf, this one was new to me. The Mexican wolf is often called El Lobo.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

That means wolf in Espanol. Espanor means Spanish.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Exactly. And that's because Mexican wolves historically lived in Mexico. Now, when you picture a wolf, you might imagine a giant, scary animal from a movie. But Mexican wolves are actually the smallest gray wolf subspecies in North America. They're kind of like in between a coyote and a bigger gray wolf. And even though they are wild animals, Mexican wolves are usually pretty shy and they tend to avoid people like us. Now, if one wandered into your backyard, you might even think it was just a really big dog, like a husky or a German shepherd. They have long legs, giant paws, pointy ears, and thick, bushy tails. Their faces are narrower than a lot of other kinds of wolves, too, almost making them look like a wild desert dog. And let me tell you, they have one of the most beautiful coats of any wolf. So Lincoln and Eliza, here's a picture of a Mexican wolf. What colors do you see?

SPEAKER_01 3:33

I see black, some gray, some gold, some white. I see pink, black, brown, gold, white, orangish color.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

Yes, so many colors. Their fur can be coppery brown, gray, black, and white, all mixed together, almost like somebody painted them with desert colors, which makes it really good for camouflage. And even though they're called Mexican wolves, they can also be found in parts of the United States, especially Arizona and New Mexico. They can be found in the mountain woodlands, scrublands, and even desert areas. Alright, Lincoln and Eliza, what else can you tell us about El Lobo?

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Mexican wolves howl to talk to one another.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

It's true. Now, wolves make a lot of different noises or vocalizations. They growl, they yip, they bark. But the one we think of most? The howl. A wolf howl is kind of like a superpowered singing note. Wolves take a deep breath and they push air from their lungs up through their throat. Inside their throat are stretchy little flaps called vocal cords. And when air rushes past them, the cords vibrate really fast to make sound. Just like when we sing or hum. Now they shape that sound with their mouth and they use their muzzle to make it long and loud. And their long snouts can actually help the sound travel really far. I'm talking miles across forests and mountains. All right, should we try a wolf how listeners? On the count of three. Let's go. One, two, three. Now, wolves don't howl just to make noise. They howl to find their family, warn other wolves if danger is around, call their family group together, or say, hey, we're over here. Basically, a wolf howl is kind of like a giant animal walkie-talkie. And scientists believe that every wolf's howl sounds a little bit different, kind of like a vocal fingerprint. You want to hear one? Alright, y'all. What do you think he was saying?

SPEAKER_01 6:08

I think she said, help, help, my husband's in trouble.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

I think it was gimme another fact, y'all. They have super senses. They do. Their noses are so powerful, they can smell animals from really far away. Even smells that are days old. And those giant ears, they can hear tiny sounds that we would totally miss, like rustling grass, snapping twigs, or little running feet. Some scientists think wolves could even hear another wolf howling from miles away. That's like hearing your friend yell from across town. Wolves use all of those amazing senses together when they hunt. Sniffing, listening, watching, and working together as a team. What else you got, y'all?

SPEAKER_01 7:02

Mexican wolves live in families called packs.

SPEAKER_02 7:06

They do. And a wolf pack is basically a giant survival team. A pack is usually made up of parents, pups, and older brothers and sisters. The parents help the pack by deciding when to travel, hunt, rest, or protect the group. And the older wolves help teach the younger pups important survival skills, like how to hunt, track smells, stay safe, or even how. And just like in human families, everybody's got a role. Some wolves help babysit the pups, some help protect the pack, and when they hunt, they work together. Because out in the wild, a lone wolf has a much harder time surviving. But together, the pack makes them stronger, safer, and smarter. Alright, what else, Lincoln and Eliza?

SPEAKER_01 8:00

Mexican wolves can travel really, really far to find food.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Yes. Sometimes wolves travel many miles in just a day across forests, mountains, and deserts. Why? They are hunting for prey, and hunting is hard work. Mexican wolves are carnivores, which means their diet is mostly made up of other animals. So they must search for things like elk, deer, rabbits, and squirrels. Now, they don't catch something every time they go out and try, so they have to keep moving and working together, hunting in a pack. And when they find prey, they can sprint around 35 miles per hour in a short burst of speed. Their long legs and their strong bodies help them chase prey across rough land. Alright, y'all. Are we ready to meet one up close? It's time for our story of the day. Alright, friends, let's take a trip to the Gila headwaters in Arizona. There, the mountains meet the desert. Tall green pine trees dot the horizon, creating dark, moody forests while rocky cliffs rise in the distance. Rivers wind through valleys, and at night the air fills with the sound of insects, rustling leaves, and sometimes the footsteps of the rare Mexican wolf. Tonight, those footsteps belong to Luna. Luna has thick coppery fur and giant paws that rustle the plants when she walks. Her bright golden eyes glow in the moonlight. She lives in these forests with her family, a rambunctious pack of wolves that loves splashing through streams, leaping from rocks, and sniffing the air for deer and rabbits.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Come on, sleepy paws.

SPEAKER_02 10:20

Her brother Nico barked as he dashed through the woods. Luna would tear after him, paws thundering across the forest floor. That you can't steal my stick, her sister Clara would growl, trotting by with a giant branch clamped in her jaws. There was always something fun to do, a chase to unleash, a wrestling match to win, or a warm nap to take on a sun soaked rock. Truthfully, Luna loved being part of the pack. She loved it so much she almost didn't want to say the thing out loud. That itty bitty tiny thought that rolled around in her brain. Luna wanted to meet other wolves. Not just her mother and father, not just Nico and Clara, not those same cousins she wrestled every day. She wondered if there were other wolves beyond the mountains. Wolves with different howls and different stories. Sometimes at night, Luna would stare toward the dark cliffs in the distance and imagine another young wolf somewhere far away, wondering about her too. One evening, Luna trotted beside her older brother Nico as the pack climbed along a rocky trail.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Nico, she said quietly, are there other wolves out there?

SPEAKER_02 11:57

Nico flicked one ear.

SPEAKER_01 11:59

What do you mean? Like of a packs beyond the mountains. Have you ever seen one?

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Nico was quiet for a moment.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

Maybe. Long ago there were more of us. I knew it!

SPEAKER_02 12:14

Luna gasped.

SPEAKER_01 12:16

But Mom and Dad says most of those wolves disappeared. They think there might not be any left.

SPEAKER_02 12:26

Luna stopped walking.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Not any?

SPEAKER_02 12:30

Nico lowered his head. It might just be us. But that didn't feel possible. Luna looked toward the dark mountains stretching far into the distance. She tried to imagine wolves she had never met racing through forests she had never seen. That night, while the rest of the pack slept in a warm pile beneath the trees, Luna quietly slipped away. Past the river and the tall pines, down the rocky trails where coyotes yipped at the moon. Until finally she reached a deep canyon with giant stone walls that rose high into the sky. Moonlight spilled across the rocks. Luna lifted her nose and howled. For a moment everything was still. Then suddenly. Luna jumped. Her ears shot straight into the air. Another wolf?

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Hello?

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Luna barked excitedly.

unknown 13:42

Hello?

SPEAKER_02 13:44

The voice barked back. Luna spun in a circle.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

My name is Luna.

SPEAKER_02 13:50

She yipped.

SPEAKER_01 13:52

My name is Luna.

SPEAKER_02 13:54

The Canyon replied. The voice sounded strange, stretchy and wobbly, but Luna did not care.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Do you like rabbits?

SPEAKER_02 14:05

she called.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

Like rabbits.

SPEAKER_02 14:07

The voice answered. Luna gasped. This other wolf liked rabbits too. She raced through the forest as fast as her paws could carry her. Pine needles flew behind her, pebbles scattered beneath her paws. There are other wolves, Luna cried as she burst into camp.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Other wolves in the canyon.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

The younger pups popped up their heads immediately.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Really? Where?

SPEAKER_02 14:37

Even the grown wolves stood up. Luna noticed her mother's ears lift high, and her father stared quietly toward the distant mountains. Show us, he said softly. The next night the pack followed Luna back to the canyon. The wolves moved silently beneath the moonlight, weaving between the trees until they reached the cliffs. Luna puffed out her chest proudly. Listen, she whispered. She lifted her nose. Ow came the reply. See? Luna barked excitedly. The grown wolves looked at one another. Then Nico gently stepped beside her.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Luna That's an echo.

SPEAKER_02 15:32

Luna blinked.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

An echo?

SPEAKER_02 15:36

Nico nodded.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Your voice is bouncing off the walls and coming back to you.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

To demonstrate, he barked toward the rocks.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Hello?

SPEAKER_02 15:47

The canyon answered back. Hello Luna's ears slowly drooped. Oh for a moment, the canyon suddenly felt much bigger and much lonelier. Then Nico nudged her shoulder. Echoes are still pretty cool. Luna looked back toward the cliffs. The canyon now felt very quiet and very cold. Luna stopped visiting for a few nights. She rested with her family, stalked elk in the meadow, focused on being part of the pack. But she couldn't stop thinking about Nico's words. Maybe echoes were pretty amazing. The next night she returned to the canyon alone. She called. The Canyon answered. Soon, Luna began visiting almost every evening. She told the Canyon about chasing rabbits and splashing in streams.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

And then I nearly ran into the bush. It was so silky. So silly.

SPEAKER_02 17:05

She giggled as she replayed the story of Nico stepping in cactus needles.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

Ow ow ow.

SPEAKER_02 17:12

Luna laughed.

unknown 17:14

Ow, ow, ow.

SPEAKER_02 17:15

Laughed the canyon back. Sometimes Luna pretended the echo was another young wolf exploring the mountains just like her.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

You sound very smart, Luna said proudly.

SPEAKER_02 17:30

Very smart, the canyon agreed. And somehow, it made the wilderness feel less lonely. One evening, Luna climbed onto her favorite rock and howled into the canyon, just like every other night before. But then, far away in the mountains, another howl answered. Not from the canyon wall. It was coming from somewhere beyond the ridge. Luna froze. The how came again, low and wild and real. Then another joined it. Then another Luna's golden eyes widened. Other wolves, real wolves. Somewhere out there, beyond the forests and rivers and rocky cliffs, another pack was calling through the night. But this time Luna had to be sure.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Hello OutLe called.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Luna's ears sagged.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

But then I'm Rocky.

SPEAKER_02 19:03

Rocky? She wasn't Rocky. She was Luna. This couldn't be her echo. I'm Luna she called, and just after her echo, Hi Luna. Luna raced back to the rocks where the pack rested, huffing, puffing, out of breath. She could barely get the words out.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

Another wolf in the canyon. Not an echo.

SPEAKER_02 19:32

There was silence.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Luna, I know you think. No, I know. I heard words I didn't say.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Nico tilted his head. Luna's parents exchanged curious glances, and then one by one they started to move. When they approached the canyon walls, Luna took a deep breath, and then she waited. And then it came a chorus of hows. Long hows, short hows, but definitely wolf howls. Luna turned to her parents, whose eyes shined with tears. They didn't speak. And then her father slowly lifted his head toward the mountains.

SPEAKER_01 20:28

I haven't heard that in a very long time.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

For the first time, for all of them, the wilderness no longer felt empty. And when Luna howled back, someone truly answered. All right, y'all. Now, as always, our story is grounded in real animal science. Wolves really do how to communicate. And like we said earlier, those howls can travel for miles. But this story is also connected to a very real conservation story. Long ago, Mexican wolves lived across huge parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States. But over time, hunting and habitat loss caused their numbers to shrink dramatically. And in the 1970s, there were no Mexican wolves left living in the wild at all. Now thankfully, scientists, wildlife teams, zoos, indigenous communities, conservationists, and many others worked hard to protect them. And they did something pretty bold. Before Mexican wolves disappeared completely, they carefully brought some of the remaining wolves into safe places where they could have their pups and grow their numbers again. Like zoos and conservation. Centers. Over time, they started to release these wolves back into the wild. And slowly their house returned to the mountains. Today, there are still only a small number of Mexican wolves living in the wild, maybe just over 350, which means that every single pack matters. Researchers carefully track wolves, monitor their pups, and work hard to keep their numbers growing. And that means Luna's ending, hearing another pack how back through the mountains is actually something very hopeful and very real.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

Because for Mexican wolves, a how and reply is not just a how, it's hope.

SPEAKER_02 22:48

Before we go, it's time for your Wild Cognition. This week, we're asking you to help protect the pack and pack it out. That's right. As we just said, every Mexican wolf pack matters today more than ever. And healthy wolf packs depend on healthy ecosystems, no matter what kind of wolf we're talking about. Trash left behind in forests, deserts, rivers, and trails can hurt wildlife, damage habitats, and even hurt the animals that wolves rely on for food. So this week, your mission is simple. If you bring it in, pack it out. That means if you like to explore nature like us, always throw away your trash properly. If you see litter on the trail, pick it up safely with a grown-up. And help keep wild places healthy for wolves and the animals around them. And remember, all wolves matter, not just Mexican wolves. Wolves help keep ecosystems balanced and healthy all around the world. And when we protect wild spaces, we help entire packs thrive. Because every clean trail, forest, river, and campsite helps protect the pack.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

So pack it out.

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Yes. See you next week. This podcast is produced by John, also known as Lincoln and Eliza's Dad. If you're enjoying these adventures, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and tell your friends. Check out the show notes to find a coloring sheet for today's creature. And explore more episodes at wildandkindkids.com. To show us your coloring sheet or request an animal for a future story, contact us at wild and kindkidspod at gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. Thanks for exploring with us, friends. Until next time.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Keep your heart kind and your curiosity wild.