Mexican and American Red Wolves are going extinct. It is estimated that only 20-30 American Red Wolves remain in the wild, while the population of Mexican wolves was recorded to be 319 in 2025. Mexican wolf populations have seen 10 years of consecutive growth, but the fight to save them is not over, and the race to protect Red Wolves is only beginning.
Hope remains. Conservation efforts, like captive breeding programs and the construction of wildlife crossings to prevent wolf fatalities on busy roads, are helping to grow Mexican and American Red Wolf populations. With the help of our donors, Greater Good Charities is dedicated to saving these species before it's too late.
Why Are Wolves Going Extinct?
The main threat to wolves is human activity. Vehicular strikes, poaching, trophy hunting, and habitat loss have caused their numbers to dwindle drastically. In many states, policies are in place to regulate wolf populations to protect livestock, though conservationists argue the negative impacts of these predator control programs far outweigh the benefits.
American Red Wolves in particular face the problem of hybridization with coyotes. The fewer Red Wolves there are, the more likely they are to breed with coyotes, and the greater the loss to their genetic makeup.
As climate change worsens, the dangers for wolves and other endangered species will also increase. They could continue to lose vital habitat and food sources.
Why Wolves are Essential to the Environment
The loss of these wolf species would be detrimental to their environment. Wolves are a keystone species, meaning that their regular activity has a strong impact on their ecosystems.
As apex predators, wolves help regulate prey species that would otherwise decimate other populations of plants and smaller prey. Balance is necessary for any ecosystem to thrive.
Our Response
As part of our effort to save the Mexican and American Red Wolf, Greater Good Charities is working with Wolf Haven International to renovate their wolf enclosures.
We previously built a corridor between two smaller wolf enclosures at the facility, allowing both wolves and staff members to safely move between the areas. Now, we’re returning to Tenino, Washington, to replace two dilapidated enclosures with a new, larger space bordered by 600–650 feet of custom fencing, and rebuild an attached night house which provides shelter from the elements and a safe place for staff to secure wolves during maintenance.
These measures will allow the wolf sanctuary to rescue and care for more endangered wolves.
In addition to renovating wolf sanctuaries, Greater Good Charities is also working to establish wildlife crossings, which will help decrease the number of wolves lost to vehicle strikes.
To date, we’ve awarded over $8.1 million in wildlife grants, protected over 1.3 million acres, and safeguarded over 30 endangered species.
You can help the wolves. With every donation, you give hope to endangered species and help Greater Good Charities protect our environment.
