US Fish and Wildlife Service Top Ten Questions
About Red Wolves
Courtesy of Shauna Baron, Biologist-Outreach Coordinator
USFWS Red Wolf Recovery Program
1. Why is the US Fish And
Wildlife Service (USFWS) restoring red wolves (Canis rufus)?
The essential reasons are to prevent extinction of the species and
to restore the ecosystems in which red wolves occurred, as mandated
by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The ESA found that
endangered and threatened species are of aesthetic, ecological,
educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the
Nation and its people. It is important to save all members of an
ecosystem, including predators, if we intend to preserve the environment
and be good stewards of the land. Lessons learned in the red wolf
recovery program have served as a model for predator conservation
worldwide.
2. What do red wolves look
like?
Red wolves are mostly brown and buff colored with some black along
their backs, often with a reddish color on their ears, head and
legs. Red wolves are smaller than gray wolves and larger than coyotes.
The average adult female red wolf weighs 52 pounds (24 kg), and
the average adult male weighs 61 pounds (26 kg). Red wolves have
tall pointed ears and long legs with large feet. Red wolves stand
about 26 inches (67 cm) at their shoulder and are about 4 ½ feet
(145 cm) long from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.
3. Did red wolves ever exist
in North Carolina?
Based on fossil and archaeological evidence, the original red wolf
range extended throughout the southeast, from as far north as southern
New England, south to Florida and as far west as Texas and central
Missouri. At least one archaeological specimen has been found in
North Carolina. In addition, court records from eastern North Carolina
indicate that wolf bounties were paid from 1768 to 1789.
4. Do red wolves hybridize
with coyotes?
Red wolves, gray wolves, domestic dogs and coyotes are capable of
interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Social structures
and territoriality usually prevent such interbreeding. By 1960,
widespread persecution of predators and the destruction of habitat
had caused a decline in red wolf numbers and the coyote began to
migrate into the southeast. As a result, some of the remaining red
wolves were unable to find mates of their own species and they began
to hybridize with the more abundant coyote. Hybridization is usually
accepted as the final factor that resulted in the near extinction
of the red wolf. Given a choice, red wolves prefer red wolves as
mates.
5. How many red wolves currently
exist?
Red wolf numbers continue to fluctuate with annual birth and death
rates. Approximately 155 captive red wolves reside at 37 captive
breeding facilities across the US, including two island programs.
The wild red wolf population in eastern North Carolina is estimated
at nearly 100 animals. Over 50 of these animals are outfitted with
radio collars.
6. How does the USFWS keep
track of the wolves?
Each red wolf that is captured or released is outfitted with a collar
containing a radio transmitter, which emits pulse signals or "beeps"
that biologists can read with a radio receiver. These signals enable
the biologists to locate the wolves. Monitoring of these signals
can vary from twice daily to once a week, depending on specific
circumstances.
7. Are red wolves a threat
to humans?
Wild red wolves are shy and tend to stay away from humans. However,
if threatened or cornered, wolves are capable of injuring humans.
Therefore, all wildlife including red wolves should not be approached
in order to avoid injury to the animal or the people involved.
8. What do red wolves eat?
Although the exact diet of red wolves varies depending on available
prey, it usually consists of a combination of white-tailed deer,
raccoons and smaller mammals such as rabbits, rodents and nutria.
The red wolf can consume two to five pounds of food per day.
9. Do red wolves live and
/ or hunt in packs?
The primary social structure of red wolves is simply defined as
an extended family unit or "pack". A typical pack consists of five
to eight members, which includes an "alpha" or breeding adult pair
and offspring of different years. The alpha wolves are typically
the only breeders in the pack, breeding once a year. Wolf packs
have specific territories that they actively defend against other
canids (dog-like animals), including other wolves. The pack is a
very close-knit social group. In fact, older offspring will often
assist the breeding pair in pup rearing. Almost all offspring between
1 and 2 years of age will leave the pack or "disperse" to form their
own pack.
10. What does a red wolf on
private land mean to the landowner?
All wild red wolves are classified as experimental nonessential
under the ESA. This designation is not intended to have an effect
on individual landowner rights. In fact, legally designated habitat
cannot be established for experimental nonessential species under
the ESA. In the case of livestock or domestic pet depredation, relaxed
regulations were passed in 1995, which allow landowners to take
(kill) red wolves while depredation is occurring, provided that
freshly wounded livestock or pets are evident. There are also mechanisms
for landowners to be monetarily compensated if they choose to become
involved with red wolf recovery. Cooperating with private landowners
is an integral component of the Red Wolf Recovery Program.
