EndangeredRed Wolves

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish andWildlife Service isreintroducing red wolvesto prevent extinction ofthe species and to restorethe ecosystems in whichred wolves onceoccurred, as mandatedby the EndangeredSpecies Act of 1973.According to the Act,endangered andthreatened species are ofaesthetic, ecological,educational, historical,recreational, andscientific value to thenation and its people.

On the Edge of ExtinctionThe red wolf historically roamed as atop predator throughout thesoutheastern U.S. but today is one ofthe most endangered animals in theworld. Aggressive predator controlprograms and clearing of forestedhabitat combined to cause impactsthat brought the red wolf to the brinkof extinction. By 1970, the entirepopulation of red wolves was believedto be fewer than 100 animals confinedto a small area of coastal Texas andLouisiana. In 1980, the red wolf wasofficially declared extinct in the wild,while only a small number of redwolves remained in captivity.

During the1970’s, the U.S.Fish and WildlifeServiceestablishedcriteria whichhelpeddistinguish thered wolf speciesfrom othercanids. From1974 to 1980, theService appliedthese criteria tofind that only 17red wolves werestill living. Basedon additionalbreeding studies,only 14 of these

wolves were selected as founders tobegin the red wolf captive breedingpopulation. The captive breedingprogram is coordinated for theService by the Point Defiance Zoo &Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington,with goals of conserving red wolfgenetic diversity and providing redwolves for restoration to the wild.Approximately 40 cooperatingfacilities across North Americaparticipate in the national breedingprogram.

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Back in the WildThe red wolf is a shy species with asegment of its population now back inthe wild, hunting, raising young, andhowling across portions of its nativehabitat. The reintroduction effortbegan in 1987 with the release of fourcaptive-bred red wolf pairs into theAlligator River National WildlifeRefuge (ARNWR), the first-everrestoration of an officially extinctspecies back into the wild. Since thisinitial restoration, nearly 100 redwolves now roam over 1.7 millionacres of public and private land innortheastern North Carolina.

In 1988, a litterof red wolf pupswas born in thewild at ARNWR,the first wild-born pups inalmost a decade.Anothermilestone wasreached in 2002,when all red

wolves in this wild population wereborn in the wild. Ongoing innovationsin red wolf management meansuccess of this restored red wolfpopulation continues. Small numbersof red wolves also live in the wild onisland propagation sites on nationalwildlife refuges in other southeasternstates.

Why restore red wolves?Essential reasons are to preventextinction of the species and torestore the ecosystems where redwolves lived. It is important to saveall members of an ecosystem,including predators, if we are to begood stewards of the land. Predatorsmaintain the balance and health ofecosystems by controlling over-populations of prey species andremoving unhealthy animals.

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ThenortheasternNorthCarolinalocation isthe only wildred wolfmainlandpopulationsite in theworld.

FWS biologistconducting a hardrelease

Restoring redwolves contributessignificantly to localeconomies. Thepresence of redwolves in the wild orin zoos and wildlifecenters generatesecotourism dollarsfrom those seekingto enhance theirunderstanding ofthis endangeredspecies. HowlingSafaris, sponsoredby the Red WolfCoalition incooperation withthe Service, attractover 1,000 visitorsannually tonortheastern NorthCarolina andprovideopportunities forred wolf education.

The EndangeredSpecies Actrequires recoveryplans for federally-listed threatened orendangered species.The Red WolfRecovery Plandescribes

population goals and objectives forthe red wolf. Lessons learned andtechniques developed in the Red WolfRecovery Program continue to serveas templates for recovery andmanagement of other species. TheRed Wolf Recovery Program could bedescribed as an alliance of agencies,organizations, and individuals.

What do red wolves look like?Red wolves are mostly brown andbuff colored with some black alongtheir backs. Typically there is areddish color behind their ears, ontheir muzzles and along the backs of

From top to bottom: gray wolf, 80-120lbs.; red wolf, 50-80 lbs.; coyote, 20-45lbs.; red fox, 10-15 lbs.

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Red wolf dad andpups

their legs. Red wolves areintermediate in size between thelarger gray wolves and smallercoyotes.

The average adultred wolf weighsfrom 50-80 pounds,stands about 26inches at theshoulder and isabout four feet longfrom the tip of thenose to the end ofthe tail. Red wolveshave tall, pointedears, long legs, andlarge feet. Sincecoyotes sometimesenter therestoration area, itis important forpeople to know thephysicaldifferencesbetween the twospecies. Adult

coyotes weigh about one-half to two-thirds as much as adult red wolvesand stand approximately four inchesshorter; coyotes are much lessmassive through the head, chest,legs, and feet. However, red wolfyearlings could be confused withadult coyotes based on sizesimilarities.

Species Survival Plan FacilitiesMainland Release SitesIsland Projects

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Adult red wolf andyearling

Captive red wolves can be seen atnearly 40 facilities located across theUnited States. A list of these facilitiesis posted on the Alligator RiverNational Wildlife Refuge web site.

Did red wolves everexist in North Carolina?Based on fossil and archaeologicalevidence, the original red wolf rangeextended from the Atlantic and GulfCoasts, north to the Ohio RiverValley, through central Pennsylvaniaand New England, and west tosouthern Missouri and central Texas.At least one archaeological specimenhas been found in North Carolina.Early naturalists encountered redwolves, and court records fromeastern North Carolina document thepayment of red wolf bounties from1768 to 1789. Animal bounties in theU.S. began with the red wolf.

Do red wolves hybridize with coyotes?Since applying adaptive managementprinciples, biologists havedemonstrated that red wolfhybridization with coyotes can beeffectively managed. This meanssuccess in establishing wild red wolfpopulations is achievable. In fact,significant success has been recordedin northeastern North Carolinawhere the nation’s first restored wildred wolf population has beenestablished.

Original range of red wolf

In the 1960’s only a few red wolvesremained due to more than threecenturies of persecution and habitatdestruction. These same factors allowedcoyotes and coyote hybrids to migratefrom the western U.S. into southernand eastern states. These factors alsobroke down social structures whichformerly minimized interbreedingbetween wolves and coyotes.

When the few remaining red wolveswere unable to find mates of theirown species, hybridization with moreabundant coyotes did occur. Thishybridization is generally accepted asthe final factor that resulted in thenear extinction of the red wolf. Redwolves, gray wolves, domestic dogs,and coyotes are all capable ofinterbreeding and producing fertilehybrid offspring. Social structuresand territoriality usually preventsuch interbreeding.

Alligator River National WildlifeRefuge was chosen as a red wolfrestoration site, in part because itwas free of coyotes prior to the1980’s. As the non-native coyotecolonized North Carolina, by the mid-1990’s, it once again became a threatto the restored red wolf population.By 2005, biologists demonstratedthat hybridization can be effectivelymanaged while restoring red wolvesto the wild.

(#10 Insert collarphoto and/or #11collared wolf)

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Radio trackingcollar

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How are red wolvesand coyotes managed?Red wolves are managed at fourlevels: population, gene pool, familygroups, and individuals. In 1999, theService partnered with variousorganizations and scientific expertsto develop a zone-based AdaptiveManagement Plan to protect the wildred wolf population fromhybridization with coyotes. The planestablishes three zones wherecoyotes are eventually replaced witha growing red wolf population. Thefirst five years of adaptivemanagement demonstrated coyotesand interbreeding can be effectivelymanaged, red wolves can besuccessfully restored, red wolves candisplace or kill coyotes, the wild redwolf population is expanding, and redwolf reproduction is increasing. Thecurrent recovery goal for the speciesis 550 animals (at least 220 in thewild), but that figure may changedepending on the overall health ofthe population.

How does the Servicekeep track of red wolves?Biologists use technologies known asaerial and radio telemetry to trackand monitor red wolves in the wild.When red wolves are 8-10 monthsold, they are captured with a soft-sided leg trap, fitted with a radiocollar, and released back into thewild. Each collar works like a mini-radio station, emitting a uniquefrequency that identifies the wolf. Onthe ground, biologists can receive atelemetry signal from a distance ofup to 1.5 miles under good conditions.Aerial telemetry allows a range ofapproximately 20 miles. Red wolflocations and activities are monitoredby fixed-wing aircraft several times aweek. Over time, red wolves will beoutfitted with collars than can bedetected by satellites and which offercontinual data collection over abroader area.

Red wolfprey: nutria,raccoon,rabbits,white-taileddeer androdents.

Red wolf wildlifebiologists alsospend a greatdeal of time inthe field lookingfor red wolftracks and scat(feces) orlistening forhowls. Travelingdown a dirt roadwill sometimesreveal red wolftraffic, and forexample,whether a wolf istraveling alone

or with another wolf, in whatdirection it’s heading, and the generalsize of the canid. Scat samples areoften sent to a genetics lab forfurther analysis.

Are red wolves a threat to humans?There have been no documented casesof red wolves attacking humans inNorth America, despite 500 years ofcoexistence. Wild red wolves are waryand prefer to avoid humans. However, inthe same way it is wise to stay away fromstray domestic dogs, red wolves and allwildlife should not be approached forthe safety of the animal and people.

What are the primary threatsto red wolves?The primary threats to red wolvesare hybridization with the easterncoyote, illegal mortality, vehiclemortality, and diseases such asmange, hookworm, and heartworm.Hurricanes have not causedsignificant losses to the red wolfpopulation, but they have destroyedpens and enclosures. Hunting is agrowing problem as red wolves aresometimes mistaken for coyotes. TheService recommends a “Please Don’tShoot” advisory for hunters in thefive-county Albemarle Peninsulabecause of the presence ofendangered red wolves.

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What do red wolves eat?Although the exact diet of red wolvesvaries depending on available prey, astudy of approximately 2,200 scats ofwild red wolves from northeasternNorth Carolina estimates that theirdiet consists of about 50 percentwhite-tailed deer, 30 percentraccoons, and 20 percent smallmammals, such as rabbits, rodentsand nutria. A red wolf consumesabout two to five pounds of food perday and can travel up to 20 miles aday in search of food.

Do red wolvesliveand/or hunt inpacks?A “pack” issimply definedas an extendedfamily unit,which is theprimary socialstructure of bothred and graywolves. Pack sizeis influenced byhabitat and preyavailability. Atypical red wolfpack consists offive to eightanimals – an

“alpha” or breeding adult pair andoffspring of different years. Thealpha wolves breed once a yearduring winter months and are usuallythe only breeders. The gestationperiod is about 63 days, and the pups’eyes open between 10-12 days. Redwolves tend to be monogamous.

Since the red wolf ’s diet does notconsist of larger ungulates (elk, bison,or moose), group or pack hunting isprobably less frequent. Most huntingby red wolves is believed to be doneindividually or in pairs.

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FWS biologist withnew born pups

Wolf packs have specific home rangesthat they actively defend againstother canids, including other wolves.The pack is a very closely-knit group;in fact, older offspring assist thebreeding pair with den attendance

and pup-rearing.Almost alloffspringbetween one andthree years ofage will leave thepack or“disperse.”

Pup FosteringThe Red WolfRecoveryProgram hasused pupfostering toenhance thegenetic diversityof the wild redwolf populationand to sustainthe overallsurvival of thered wolf. Thefirst fostering

event took place in May, 2002. TheNorth Carolina Zoological Park inAsheboro, North Carolina, donatedtwo pups, a male and a female from alitter of six red wolf puppies born atthe zoo. The pups were implantedwith microchips for futureidentification and transported to theAlligator River NWR. The captivepups were then inserted into a wildwolf den containing two wild bornpups of identical age and wereaccepted by the wild mother. Thepups grew to adulthood andcontinued to live among the wildpopulation. Red wolves are highlysocial animals and have very strongparental instincts. Fostering hasproven to be a useful tool in red wolfrecovery efforts.

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Above: red wolfpups; below:typical den

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How do red wolvesmaintain territories?Red wolves rely heavily on theirsense of smell for survival. Similar todomestic dogs, wolves use scent-marking to establish their territoriesand travel routes. Because each wolfhas a unique odor, members of thesame pack can identify each other. Ared wolf territory can range from afew hundred to more than 50,000acres.

Howling is another significant formof communication and a means ofmaintaining territorial boundaries.Wolves howl for many reasons: tokeep track of wolves within andbetween packs, to assemble packmembers, to announce or defend afresh kill, to unify the pack (grouphowl), or to mark a territory.

What does a redwolf on privateland mean to thelandowner?Variousmeasures offlexibility arebuilt into theEndangeredSpecies Act thatrecognizes theneeds oflandownerswhile offering

protection for the red wolf. Therights and lawful activities of alandowner, such as farming, logging,hunting, trapping, or livestockoperations, can continue with little orno impact from red wolves.

Some landowners report positivebenefits from red wolves, such asnatural control of non-native nutriaor nest-raiding raccoons on theirland. The presence of a pack of redwolves is likely to also reduce thepresence of nuisance coyotes.

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This is a juvenilemale red wolf in acotton field.

Red wolves cause very fewdepredation problems. Shouldlivestock or domestic petdepredations occur, regulations havebeen passed that allow landowners totake (kill) red wolves if certainconditions exist. The animal musthave been “caught in the act” of adepredation, or freshly woundedlivestock or pets should be evident.There are also payment mechanismsfor landowners if they choose tobecome involved with red wolfrecovery or if they suffer livestock orpet depredations.

Private/corporate lands are anintegral component of the Red WolfRecovery Program. They act asimportant wildlife corridors betweenfederal lands and provide diversehabitats for wolves to occupy.Partnerships with private land ownerswork well for people and wolves.

How can peoplelearn moreabout red wolfrestoration?The Red WolfRecoveryProgram reachesthousands ofpeople annuallyby participatingin communityeventsthroughoutNorth Carolina,often inpartnership withother agenciesand the Red WolfCoalition, acitizen-supportgroup. HowlingSafaris drawover 1,000visitors a year tothe ARNWR.

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Tiger Cub Scout Troup #921 of Grifton,North Carolina

Eastern North CarolinaWildlife Art Show

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“Far Traveler”teacher workshopsare held semi-annually to expandred wolf education.Discovery Boxes,containing red wolfteaching tools, aremailed toenvironmentaleducatorsthroughout the U.S.on a reservationsystem.

The red wolf website is maintainedwith up-to-dateinformation andother red wolf

resource links. Public awarenesssurrounding the red wolf restorationeffort is further expanded todomestic and international audiencesthrough print and broadcast media.

Visiting red wolf exhibits at zoos andnature centers offer another sourceof education and, in many cases,public viewing opportunities. Learnthe mission of the American Zoo andAquarium Association’s SpeciesSurvival Plan Program and its link tothe Service and endangered species.

How can you help?Learn about wildlife and how toenjoy and protect wild animals.

Drive safely since red wolves andother wild animals often cross roadsto find food.

Keep the roads clean of litter. Itattracts wild animals, putting them inharm’s way.

Hunt responsibly. There are 100counties in North Carolina – 95 donot have red wolves.

Support the Red Wolf Coalition andcooperating zoo facilities.

1791 Red wolf first described by Bartram.

1851 First publication of valid scientific name for redwolf by Audubon and Bachman.

1905 First recognition of red wolf as a distinct speciesby Bailey.

1937 First recognition of three subspecies of red wolfby Goldman.

1962 Scientific community informed by McCarley thatred wolf is in danger of extinction.

1967 Red wolf listed as an endangered species underprovisions of the Endangered SpeciesPreservation Act of 1966.

1968 Service begins a study of the red wolf insoutheast Texas and southwest Louisiana.

1969 First red wolf placed into captivity initiating thered wolf captive-breeding center at PDZA.

1973 Endangered Species Act becomes Federal law.First red wolf recovery plan completed andimplementation begins. In a race againstextinction, an all-out effort to capture wild redwolves for captive-breeding program begins.

1977 First litter of red wolf pups born in captivity inPDZA.

1978 First successful experimental release, tracking,and recapture of red wolves on Bulls Island,South Carolina, solidifies restoration techniques.

1980 Last red wolves removed from the wild and redwolf declared extinct in the wild. Unique allelefound by Ferrell et al. in Canis specimens fromwithin red wolf range supports conclusion thatred wolf is a distinct species.

1984 Red wolf recovery plan revised, updated, andapproved. Red wolf incorporated into AZA’sSSP. ARNWR established on land innortheastern North Carolina donated to theService by Prudential Insurance Company.

Historic Time Line for the Endangered Red Wolf

1987 First restoration begins with the release of fourpairs of captive-born red wolves into ARNWR.First island propagation project begins on BullsIsland in an attempt to give red wolves somewild experience before release into mainlandreintroductions.

1988 First litter of red wolf pups born in the wild atARNWR.

1989 Second restoration project started by the releaseof red wolves into GSMNP. Wayne and colleaguespublish mtDNA results suggesting that the redwolf may be of hybrid origin. American SheepIndustryAssociationfilespetition todelist redwolf basedon themtDNAresults.

1991 Second-generationred wolfpups bornin the wildatARNWR.1991petitionrequest todelist the red wolf found unwarranted by Service.First litter of red wolf pups born via artificialinsemination at PDZA.

1992 Red wolves released into PLNWR. First redwolves born in the wild in GSMNP.

1995 Attitude survey by North Carolina StateUniversity shows majority of residents in easternNorth Carolina support red wolf reintroduction.Amendment to Interior Appropriation Billintroduced in Senate to suspend all funding forRed Wolf Recovery Program. Amendmentnarrowly defeated.

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1995 North Carolina law to allow taking of red wolveson private property in two counties goes intoeffect. Revised relaxed Federal regulationspublished addressing concerns about restored redwolves. National Wilderness Institute files petitionto delist red wolf based on nuclear DNA results.

1996 Economic study by Cornell University showsstrong regional support for red wolf recovery,substantial potential tourism benefits, and asignificant willingness of the public to pay for redwolf recovery that far exceeds the cost of theprogram. Study by East Carolina Universityshows strong local support for red wolf recoveryin northeastern North Carolina and a willingnessto contribute financially to support the program.

1997 1995 petition request to delist the red wolf foundunwarranted by the Service. Two NorthCarolina counties and two individuals file suit toinvalidate federal regulations regarding the redwolf. Fourth island propagation project initiatedon Cape St. George Island off the Gulf Coast ofFlorida.

1998 GSMNP reintroduction project canceled due tolow pup survival and the inability of wolves toestablish home ranges within the Park. PHVAand Adaptive Management Plan initiated.

1999 PHVA determines that hybridization withcoyotes is the greatest threat to the recovery ofthe red wolf. An adaptive management plan isdeveloped to address and manage hybridization.

2002 The entire red wolf population in northeasternNorth Carolina is wild-born except for two pupsborn at the North Carolina Zoo that are fosteredinto a wild den.

2003 Litter of pups born at PDZA via artificialinsemination using fecal hormone analysis totime insemination.

2004 One of the 2002 fostered pups fathers a litter ofeight. Two captive-born pups (born at CRNWR)fostered into separate wild dens.

Historic Time Line for the Endangered Red Wolf

2006 About 100-130 wild red wolves roam 1.7 millionacres in northeastern North Carolina, and over170 exist in the captive population throughout theU.S. Adaptive management is working to controlthe coyote population in the recovery zones andhas seen measurable success.

2006 With support from the Recovery ImplementationTeam, red wolf recovery continues to progress.New research techniques and data managementare continually incorporated into the recoveryeffort.

Key to Acronyms

ARNWR: Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, NC

AZA: American Zoo and Aquarium Association

CRNWR: Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

GSMNP: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

mtDNA: Mitochondrial DNA

PDZA: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA

PHVA: Population and Habitat Viability Assessment

PLNWR: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, NC

SSP: Species Survival Plan

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRed Wolf Recovery ProgramAlligator River National Wildlife RefugeP.O. Box 1969, Manteo, NC 27954Phone: 252/473 1131 Ext. 246 Fax: 252/473 4836E-mail: redwolf@fws.govwww.fws.gov/alligatorriver

Red Wolf Captive Breeding ProgramPoint Defiance Zoo and Aquarium5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98407Phone: 253/591 5337 Fax: 253/591 5448www.pdza.org

Red Wolf CoalitionP.O. Box 96, 212 Main Street, Columbia, NC 27925Phone: 252/796 5600 Fax: 252/796 5601E-mail: redwolf@redwolves.comwww.redwolves.com

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ooU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDwww.fws.gov/southeast

December 2006