The red wolf once roamed throughout the southeastern United States and as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Texas. Related to the more familiar grey wolf (Canis Lupus), but a separate species the red wolf (Canis Rufus) is one of the world's rarest canids. It is smaller than its cousin the grey wolf, but larger than a coyote. The average male weighs about 60 lbs and the average female weighs a little more than 50 lbs. The red wolf's coat is gray, brown, buff and black with a cinnamon reddish cast especially notable behind the ears and along the legs. They are shy and elusive animals.
Near Total Extinction of the Red Wolf
Once fairly common over a large area of the United States, the red wolf population declined steeply due to loss of habitat and predator control programs that permitted wolf hunting.
By the 1960s scientists were warning that the red wolf was in danger of extinction. In 1967 the red wolf was listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966. Scientists working with the US Fish and Wildlife service decided to try to breed the red wolf in captivity and captured the first red wolf destined for the breeding program In 1969.
In 1973 the red wolf was declared an endangered species under the newly rewritten and beefier Endangered Species Act and an intense effort to capture the few remaining wolves from a remnant population in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana began. Because of their low numbers the red wolves had begun interbreeding with coyotes and consequently many of the animals captured were red wolf/coyote hybrids. Scientists made the determination that only 17 of the animals captured were pure red wolves and in 1980 with those original 17 red wolves in captivity the species was declared extinct in the wild.
Recovery of the Red Wolf
Of the 17 red wolves captured, only 14 were suitable for breeding. Captive breeding of those 14 was successful, though, and in 1987 four breeding pairs were released at the remote Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina.
According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, today over 100 wild red wolves roam over one million acres in northeastern North Carolina and about 200 are in captive breeding programs at over 40 different facilities throughout the United States.
Red Wolf Facts
Red wolves in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge eat white-tailed deer, raccoons, and other small mammals such as rabbits, nutria and rodents. Red wolves are primarily nocturnal, but are sometimes active during the day, especially in winter. They live in familial packs consisting of an alpha breeding pair and their offspring. Pack members communicate by scent marking, postures, and vocalization, including wolf howling. Red wolves use their distinctive howl to communicate over long distances.
Female red wolves come into estrus only once a year in January or February. They have a gestation period of 63 days and 3-5 pups are born during the spring. By the time they are two years old most grown pups leave the pack and seek their own mates.
For more information about red wolves see: Field Trip Earth.
For more information about other wolf species see: Western Gray Wolves, The Ethiopian Wolf, and Bringing the Wolf Back to Yellowstone.
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