BASIC FACTS ABOUT AMERICAN RED WOLVES

The American Red wolf is a unique species that is exclusively native to the United States. They are also the rarest wolf in the world. It wasn’t until 2018 that researchers made a monumental breakthrough in discovering they are distinct from coyotes and Gray wolves. This classification helped to solidify their protections and emphasize the importance of their conservation and recovery. 

 

American Red wolves were placed on the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The species was almost entirely wiped out due to predator control programs, habitat loss, and interbreeding with coyotes. Biologists captured more than 400 wolf-like canids, but breeding experiments revealed that only 14 were “true” Red wolves. In 1980, their species was declared extinct in the wild. Reintroductions began in 1987 when four pairs were reintroduced in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. American Red wolf populations peaked at about 130 individuals in 2006, and then recovery efforts dwindled which resulted in the loss of most of our wild population.

 

Recovery efforts have since resumed, but are still met with many challenges that threaten the conservation of this keystone species. Cross-fostering and reintroduction efforts have placed more American Red wolves on the landscape, but at any given time there are less than 30 in the wild.

 

HABITAT & DIET

American Red wolves are opportunistic carnivores depending on prey availability. Their diet primarily consists of white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits and small mammals, rodents, and nutria which are an invasive species that was introduced for the fur trade. 

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American Red wolves are present in only 5 counties in North Carolina. Their historic range spanned from Pennsylvania to Missouri, to Texas to Florida. They were historically widespread throughout the southeastern U.S., but have lost over 99.7% of their historic territory. 

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BEHAVIOR​

American Red wolves are highly social, family-oriented animals that live in packs consisting of a breeding pair (or alphas) and their offspring from previous years. Family members work together to hunt and care for offspring. When wolves turn around two-years old, they often disperse in search of their own mates. American Red wolves are incredibly elusive and generally avoid humans at all costs. They have a wide variety of vocalizations that sound similar to a coyote’s, but are often carried out longer with lower pitches.

 

BREEDING

American Red wolves are monogamous and mate for life. Mating Season: Pairs usually mate once a year during January through March, and give birth to pups between April to May.

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​Gestation: 61-63 days 
Litter Size: 4-6 pups