A new study found that there are now more Mexican gray wolves roaming the American Southwest than at any time since the government began re-introducing the predator nearly 20 years ago.
The new study from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said at least 113 wolves are now spread between southwestern New Mexico and southeast Arizona. Last year, 97 were documented.
Federal officials said the numbers are encouraging, but that more work needs to be done to make sure that the population grows by about 10 percent each year.
The survey showed 50 wild-born pups survived in 2016. That’s about double the amount that survived in 2015.