J. Henry Fair
Brian Kelly.
Brian T. Kelly, Art Beyer, Jennifer Gilbreath, Chris
Lucash, Scott McLellan, Mike Morse, Kathy Whidbee, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Red Wolf Recovery, PO Box 1969, Manteo,
NC 27954, USA; V. Gary Henry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
Recovery of red wolves (Canis rufus) in the wild began
in 1987 when wolves born and raised in captivity were released
onto Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern
North Carolina (NENC). The current free-ranging wolf population
consists of approximately 95 wolves roaming over approximately
1 million acres. The success of the NENC restoration indicates
re-wilding of red wolves is possible in areas with diverse land
use and a high percentage of private land. However, the NENC
population was established while few coyotes (C. latrans)
inhabited the restoration area. Historically, the red wolf was
placed in captivity and declared extinct in the wild because
of hybridization with coyotes. This hybridization was precipitated
by habitat alteration and predator control programs which reduced
the red wolf population while simultaneously favoring the establishment
and growth of coyote populations. Since restoration began, coyotes,
an exotic species in NENC, have become more common and hybridization
of wild red wolves and coyotes is again occurring. In spring
of 1999, a week-long facilitated review of the red wolf recovery
program was conducted. Based on this review, a science based
adaptive plan was crafted to understand and manage hybridization
in the only free-ranging population of red wolves. This plan
is based on the territorial nature of wild canids and involves
additional red wolf releases and the sterilization of coyotes
and hybrids. The basis for the adaptive plan, the social and
scientific challenges of implementing the plan, and the results
of implementing the plan to date will be discussed.
Beyond 2000: