LAS CRUCES – The movement of an endangered Mexican wolf from New Mexico into Chihuahua is drawing renewed attention to border wall construction and wildlife connectivity in southern New Mexico.
The radio-collared wolf, called “Cedar,” crossed into Mexico last week through a remote section of the Bootheel region, where conservation groups say the border wall has not yet fully closed off movement between the two countries. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has started extending the wall in the area where the wolf crossed.
Wildlife advocates say Cedar’s journey is important because Mexican wolves in the United States and Mexico need the ability to move, find mates and strengthen genetic diversity. Conservationists say the species remains vulnerable, and connecting wolf populations on both sides of the border could help improve its chances of survival.
Cedar was born in Arizona and traveled through New Mexico before crossing into Chihuahua. He is the younger brother of Asha, a Mexican wolf known for traveling outside the current recovery area before being captured and later released with a captive-born family in 2025.
Conservation groups say the case is similar to past wolf movements near southern New Mexico. In 2017, a wolf from Mexico briefly reached the edge of Las Cruces before returning south. Another wolf crossed into Arizona but was later captured.
In 2021, a wolf known as Mr. Goodbar traveled to the same general border area near Las Cruces but was blocked by the border wall. Wildlife advocates said he paced the wall for several days before returning north to the Gila National Forest.
Groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project say the latest crossing shows that open wildlife corridors are still being used and remain important. They say further wall construction could prevent future movement by Mexican wolves and other rare species.
By John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications – john@bravomic.com
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