Red Riding Hood Has Nothing On This Wolf
Lets talk about wolves. When I think of wolves in the US, my brain goes to the grey wolves roaming the wilds of the West. However, there are more wolves than the grey in the United States. Today I want to introduce you to the apex predator we almost lost, the red wolf. Lets meet these elusive wonders.
What is a red wolf?
Red wolves are a type of (drumroll…) wolf. In North America, there are supposedly (which means scientists are still debating it) three different species of wolves: the gray wolf, the eastern wolf, and the red wolf. These predators get their name from the red fur often seen around their ears, neck, and legs. They have large ears and are slender compared to other canids. In terms of size, red wolves are intermediate between gray wolves and coyotes. They can be up to 5 feet long and weigh around 44-85 pounds. In the wild, red wolves live to be around 7-10 years, while those in zoological settings (which is where most of them are) can live into their late teens.
Where can I find a red wolf?
Historically, red wolves were found across the southeastern United States. Their range stretched from the east coast to central Texas and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ohio River Valley. Unfortunately, the red wolf has been nearly wiped out. Currently, a small protected population of 15-18 red wolves is found in eastern North Carolina. The rest of the population resides in zoological settings, where they are part of a carefully implemented breeding program known as the Species Survival Program (SSP). Red wolves can also be viewed at various zoos that are helping revive the population.
What do red wolves eat?
Like most canids, red wolves are omnivores, and their diet changes with the seasons. While scientists aren't 100% sure about the specifics of their wild diet, red wolves have been observed eating raccoons, white-tailed deer, nutria, rabbits, and other small mammals.
How do we make more red wolves?
Red wolves are monogamous and raise their pups together. The gestation period is about 60 days, with an average litter of 6-7 pups. Pups are fully grown at around 1 year old and become sexually mature at 2-3 years old. The majority of red wolves are part of a breeding program in zoological settings. Wolves are paired based on their genetics to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population. Zoos play an essential role in animal conservation and species recovery (looking at you, California condors).
Do red wolves have superpowers?
Of course they do. These incredible predators have faced extinction head-on, and with help, they’ve avoided total eradication. In 1980, red wolves were declared extinct in the wild, but thanks to the efforts of the Point Defiance Zoo, North Carolina Zoo, the federal government, and a variety of conservation societies and landowners, the wolves are slowly making progress toward population growth. In 2022, the first litter of pups was born in the wild since 2018—small paw prints in the right direction. They are the underdogs of the wolf world, and I’m cheering them on.
How many are there?
In the wild, there are around 15-18 red wolves in a protected experimental population. There are approximately 45 zoological facilities housing the remaining 240+ red wolves
Image Source: US Fish and Wildlife
Science Time!!!! (woooooo)
Red Wolf - Canis rufus
The IUCN Red List has the red wolf as Critically Endangered. Their current threats are car strikes, zoonotic diseases like parvovirus, and hybridization with coyotes. There are several conservation efforts supporting red wolves. Groups include North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Red Wolf Recovery Program (USFW), and various zoos across the country.
Resources:
North Carolina Wildlife Federation. (2024). Red Wolves in North Carolina. Wildlife. https://ncwf.org/wildlife/red-wolves
North Carolina Zoo. (n.d.). Red Wolf. Wildlife. https://www.nczoo.org/wildlife/animals/red-wolf
Phillips, M. (2018). Canis rufus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T3747A163509841.en
US Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.). Red Wolf (Canis rufus). Species. https://www.fws.gov/species/red-wolf-canis-rufus
