Appearance: Mexican gray wolves have large heads with thick muzzles. Their coat colors include buff, grey, rust and black. They have a keen sense of smell and binocular vision. 

Habitat: These wolves live in chaparral desert scrub, grassland valleys and wooded areas. Historically they were found throughout western Texas, southern New Mexico, central Arizona and northern Mexico. Re-introduction plans have been developed to help their survival in the future.

Family Life: Mexican gray wolves live in packs of three to eight with a strong social hierarchy. The pack is ruled by an alpha male and female who are responsible for maintaining territorial boundaries, keeping the peace among pack members and initiating the movements of the pack. The alpha pair may be the only pair to breed in a pack.

Threats: Threats include humans, other wolves, parasites, diseases and starvation.