Texas is Awesome, But Gets an F On One Thing

At one time, there were two species of a certain animal in Texas, but we're not known for being a state that supports this wildlife species anymore.  Wanna help change our bad reputation?

I really tried hard to let my mind turn to go on vacation and totally relax and not learn a darned thing, but it didn't work very well.  While I was in Colorado last week I learned that Texas gets an F for its inability to support wolf populations.

I went to the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide, CO last week because my 11-year old daughter is obsessed with wolves and wanted to see them up close, and it was truly fascinating to see them move through their habitat with their mates.  These creatures weren't scary at all, and in fact, some of them came trotting right up to the fence when the tour guide called them by name and got a meaty treat just like a pet dog would.  I know they're hunters that can rip things to shreds, but I was more in awe of them than afraid.

We used to have two types of wolves in Texas:  the southeastern red wolf and the more widespread gray wolf.  Mexicanwolves.org says the favorite among conservationists in our area is a subspecies of the gray wolf called the Mexican gray wolf and they used to be seen in west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico, but they've since been wiped out.  There's a push now to add the wolves back to Big Bend National Park so they can help the ecosystem there.

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center works on wolf conservation and wants wolf populations to expand across the country, and that's why they're rating states on how well they're doing.  Texas isn't a wolf-friendly state right now, but that could change down the road if enough of us decide it's important to us.  Right now the largest wolf populations are in small patches in the northern US.

If kids can change the world, we'll have wolves back in Texas soon.  My daughter, and maybe yours too, might be leading the way.