On June 19, 2026, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1280, protecting a critical aspect of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. This bill would have legally barred the Arizona Fish & Game Commission from transporting Mexican gray wolf pups into the state.
Case studies from Montana and Florida show an underlying pattern of decisions made without complete data or clear understanding of a wildlife population.
In February 2026, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game killed three wolves in the Panhandle region near Sandpoint, blaming them for an “underperforming” elk population. This isn’t “science-based management,” it’s a pattern and part of a broader systemic problem with wildlife governance.
Lobo Week 2026 (March 22-29) raises awareness and advocacy for the endangered Mexican gray wolf, or lobo. The U.S. Mexican gray wolf population has grown to 319 wolves across Arizona and New Mexico, but low genetic diversity, illegal killing, and political boundaries continue to threaten their survival.