Red Wolf Project : Introduction to The Red Wolf

Disclaimer: The views and conclusions contained in this website and in all documents or media contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.

The Backstory

The American Red Wolf is the world’s most critically endangered canid. Once common throughout the eastern United States, the population was decimated by the early 20th century as a result of intensive predator control and the destruction of habitat and forested barriers. These land alterations allowed western coyotes to eventually move east across Texas, where they mated with the dwindling population of remaining wolves in the surrounding eastern states. During the first half of the 20th century these hybrids began to supplant the Red Wolf throughout its original range.

In the late 1970s there were only pockets of wolves left, mainly in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. During that decade agents captured 400+ total canids throughout Louisiana and Texas, with only 17 being deemed “pure” Red Wolves based on morphology. The remaining canids (coyotes and hybrids) were destroyed. Only 14 of the 17, now known as ‘the founders’, were placed in a captive breeding program. Their offspring were released onto federal land in North Carolina between 1987 - 1994. By 2012 the population was doing extremely well and reached 100–120 individuals. However due to political and taxonomic controversy, as well as human-driven persecution and intolerance, the population declined dramatically following 2012 and was down to 40 individuals in 2018.

Only seven collared Red Wolf individuals were known to remain in the wilds of North Carolina as of October 2020. Since this time the USFWS has released new Red Wolf stock into North Carolina. See these updates HERE.