Southwest Wildlife is actively involved with the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan. Under the Endangered Species Act, the Mexican gray wolf has been named as an endangered species. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has developed a recovery plan by which this species is being reintroduced to its native range.

Captive breeding facilities are responsible for animals actively breeding as part of the recovery program. Management facilities are designed to prepare wolves for release by minimizing human contact, simulating the natural environment, and encouraging wild behavior characteristics.

Holding facilities play three major roles in the recovery program. They provide homes for animals that have been retired from the captive breeding program, where they will live out the remainder of their lives. They may care for potential breeding animals until the recovery program is ready to use them as breeding stock, at which time they will be sent to a captive breeding facility. Holding facilities also provide homes for recaptured animals. Southwest Wildlife plays an important role in the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan as a holding facility.