No, Dire Wolves Are Not Back—But We Should Talk About What Is Being Unleashed
Genetically engineered “dire wolves” are gaining public attention, while real wolves in the wild, like this endangered gray wolf, are under attack. (Source: USFWS)
The internet lit up recently with headlines claiming the dire wolf has been brought back from extinction. The truth, however, is far less sensational—and much more relevant to today’s wildlife challenges.
As New Scientist explains, what’s really happened is that gray wolves have been genetically engineered to look like dire wolves—not to bring back a species, but to create a wolf with exaggerated, prehistoric features. These are not real dire wolves, and their creation is more about novelty than conservation.
And while media hype swirls around these “designer wolves,” the very real wolves that roam our forests and deserts today are under relentless attack.
Real Wolves, Real Work
Wolves already play a vital role in rewilding. These apex predators help keep ecosystems healthy by balancing prey populations, shaping landscapes, and even supporting plant and bird life. But for wolves to fulfill this ecological role, we need more than just minimum numbers on the landscape—we need ecologically effective populations, strong protections, and a culture that respects these sentient, social animals as individuals, not just a species quota.
We should be focused on restoring wolves where they belong and ensuring their safety—not genetically engineering them to resemble something more “impressive” for human amusement.
Wolves don’t need to be reinvented. They need to be protected.
How You Can Help Protect Wolves
Wolves across the U.S. are being targeted by fearmongering, cruel policies, and special interest lobbying. Here’s how you can take action right now:
1. Help stop the attack on Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico
Catron County is pushing a dangerous resolution declaring a “state of emergency” over the presence of endangered Mexican gray wolves—based on fear and misinformation, not science.
📢 Sign the petition urging Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to oppose this harmful resolution and stand up for wildlife. If you’re in or connected to New Mexico, please share this widely!
Mexican gray wolves in Cochise County are also under threat! Learn more here about how to help: A Call to Action for Mexican Gray Wolves in Cochise County.
2. Tell your senators: VOTE NO on Brian Nesvik for USFWS Director
Brian Nesvik, former director of Wyoming Game & Fish, stood by while a man tortured a wolf in his state and did nothing. Now he’s up for nomination to lead the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. His record? Prioritizing industry over wildlife, weakening protections for predators, and sidelining science.
📞 Call your senators and tell them to vote NO on Nesvik:
👉 Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
3. Defend the Endangered Species Act—wolves are in the crosshairs
Once again, Congress is trying to gut the ESA and strip wolves of their federal protections—ignoring science, public opinion, and ecological need. Several bills would permanently delist wolves and weaken the ESA, setting dangerous precedents for all imperiled species.
📞 Call your representatives today and demand they protect wildlife and the ESA:
👉 Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
📣 Your voice makes a difference. Please use it!
Wolves don’t need science fiction—they need science-based policy. Let’s work together to protect real wolves and the wild places they call home!
Michelle Lute lives outside Santa Fe and has a doctorate in wolf conservation. She is the executive director of Wildlife for All and vice president of The Rewilding Institute.