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Source:
U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
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Why is the US Fish
And Wildlife Service (USFWS) restoring red wolves (Canis
rufus)? |
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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. |
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What do red wolves
look like? |
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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.
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Did red wolves ever
exist in North Carolina? |
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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. |
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Do red wolves hybridize
with coyotes? |
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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. |
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How many red wolves
currently exist? |
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Red wolf numbers continue to fluctuate with annual
birth and death rates. At the end of 2001, the total
captive population was 155 animals located at 31 captive
breeding facilities across the US. The wild red wolf
population in eastern North Carolina numbered approximately
100 animals, with 72 of these animals being outfitted
with radio collars. Another 13 red wolves existed at
2 island propagation sites off the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts. |
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How does the USFWS
keep track of the wolves? |
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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. |
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Are red wolves a
threat to humans? |
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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. |
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What do red wolves
eat? |
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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. |
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Do red wolves live
and / or hunt in packs? |
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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. |
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What does a red wolf
on private land mean to the landowner? |
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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. |
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P.O. Box 671670, Chugiak, Alaska 99567-1670
wolfsong@alaska.com
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The Wolf Song of Alaska logo, web site text and photos are copyrighted, registered, and protected, and cannot be used without permission. Photos by Monty Sloan, Tom & Maria Talasz.
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