The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is home to a pack of seven Mexican wolves, the smallest, most southern occurring, and rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. These captivating creatures are part of a conservation effort to restore a similar species, the gray wolf, to the wild in Colorado.

The Mexican Wolf Pack at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Mexican wolves at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are intentionally kept as wild as possible, receiving no training from the keepers. The exhibit is designed to help them maintain their natural instincts, with a one-way glass that allows visitors to observe the wolves without the wolves seeing them.

The pack includes 7-year-old father Navarro, 5-year-old son Phoenix, 5-year-old sisters Hope and Shadow, and 4-year-old Uno. Keepers rely on the different markings on their face and coat to identify them, which can be challenging during the winter when their fluffy coats grow in.

Mexican Wolves: The Largest Carnivores at the Zoo

Mexican wolves are the largest carnivores at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo that keepers share space with. They are naturally inclined to keep their distance from humans and go after smaller mammals, such as rabbits. A pack can take down a deer or elk, particularly a younger or injured animal.

Conservation Efforts for the Mexican Wolf

The Mexican wolves at the zoo are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is working to conserve the species. The SSP began in 1977, and wolves have been released into the wild as part of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in the Southwest since the late 1990s. Thanks to these conservation efforts, there are now about 240 Mexican wolves in the wild.

Visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cost and Timings

• Regular daytime ticket for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: $19.75 for adults, $14.75 for children (ages 3-11), and free for children under 3.
• The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• Animal demonstrations are included with your regular daytime ticket and are held throughout the day, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 4:15 p.m.

Location and Contact Information

• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd
  Colorado Springs, CO 80906
  Phone: 719-633-9925

Conclusion

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers a unique opportunity to see and learn about Mexican wolves, as well as other animals, in a naturalistic setting. The zoo’s animal demonstrations provide insight into the natural behaviors and unique features of the animals, while also enriching and engaging them. By supporting the conservation efforts of the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is playing a vital role in the restoration of this rare and fascinating subspecies of gray wolf.

References:
– New in the Press: Rare Mexican Gray Wolf to Call Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Home
– An Elusive Wild Family Unit: Meet the Mexican Wolves at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
– Mexican Wolf
– Golden Years: Mexican Wolf Matriarch Luna Ages with Esteem
– Featured Animals: Mexican Wolf