Mexican Gray Wolf (Credit: USFWS)

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that, after a 12-month finding on two petitions, the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) will not be classified as an endangered subspecies or Distinct Population Segment (DPS) with designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act.

USFWS found that listing the subspecies was unwarranted, given that the Mexican gray wolf is currently listed as endangered under the 1978 gray wolf listing at the species level (Canis lupus), giving all individuals the protections of the Act.

USFWS will continue to review the conservation status of all gray wolves under the 1978 listing.

Source: Federal Register (October 9, 2012)