Red wolves once existed throughout Tennessee; however, removal began shortly after European settlement. They were reintroduced in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in 1991, however the project was unsuccessful. In 1998, the U.S. Fish and Widlife Service and National Park Service ended efforts
to restore red wolves in the GSMNP due to low pup survival and
inability of wolves to establish home ranges within the park.
Of the 37 wolves released since 1991, 26 had died or been recaptured after straying onto private lands. Agencies recaptured and relocated the remaining red wolves. Currently no red wolf populations live in Tennessee.
