Wikipedia:WikiProject Red Wolf

Red Wolves: Conservation History, Threats, and Proposed Solutions

Brief History of Red Wolves

Red Wolves are the most endangered canine species in the world and are endemic to North America. They once roamed from eastern United States to central United States. Currently, the wild red wolf population only resides in North Carolina. Red wolves live in coastal prairies and marsh habitat. They are opportunistic hunters that can prey on a variety of species: deer, raccoons, smaller mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and nutria. Similar to the grey wolf, red wolves are social species that usually comprises of 5-8 wolves per pack, with two of them being the breeding pair, and the remaining wolves are the yearlings, and the pups (1).

Red wolves were driven to be only in Texas and Louisiana due to human persecution and settlement in southern eastern United States. When forced into Texas and Louisiana, red wolves were breeding with coyotes, and they suffered from parasitic infections. Red wolves were listed as endangered in 1967, and the recovery program was initiated in 1973. During this time, researchers documented the distribution of red wolves in Texas and Louisiana, and they found that red wolves were becoming rarer, but coyote-red wolf hybrids were becoming increasingly more common. To reduce and mitigate hybridization between red wolves and coyotes, the remaining 14 red wolves in 1973 were captured and sent to the Point Defiance Zoological Garden in Washington to be a part of the breeding program (2).

In 1984, red wolves were included in the species survival program. Additionally, in 1986, the reintroduction of red wolves started. To reintroduce red wolves, they chose Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. These refuges were chosen because they were both large and had acreages of plain habitats, abundant prey, either limited or no coyotes, few livestock, and few humans. These factors made them an ideal habitat for the red wolves. Prior to having the red wolves being fully released, they were allowed to acclimate in a pen for an average of 19 months. Human interaction was also minimized to avoid habituation, and also provided live prey, and also implemented famine and feast conditions to replicate what they would experience in the wild. 135 wolves were involved in this restoration effort, however, 38% died while free ranging after release, 30% by vehicles, 27% died of malnutrition, 12% due to intraspecific aggression. Additionally, 4 red wolves were drowned, 4 were shot because they were mistaken as coyotes, one was poisoned, and one died from handling accidents (2).

Red Wolves at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

The red wolf population has struggled to maintain high numbers. In 2005, there were 105 wild red wolves, but by 2016, there were 45-60 left. Then in 2020, there were 7 left (3). As of now, there are currently 20-22 wild red wolves left in the wild. As of February 2024, 18 of them are collared, and there are about 263 red wolves in captive breeding programs with the intention to release them one day. The most recent pups that were born was April 19th, 2022: a litter of 6 pups born to red wolf 2225F and 2323M. This was a litter that was the first to be born since 2018 (4).



Threats: Anthropogenic Mortality (Illegal Hunting and Vehicle Deaths) and Hybridization

Many of the threats that coyotes faced before, they still face them today. These threats include hybridization with coyotes, and anthropogenic mortality (gunshots/poaching, and vehicle collisions). These two particular threats coincide with one another, as anthropogenic mortality can increase the risk of hybridization. According to a study published in 2021, they analyzed data from collared red wolves between 1987-2018 in regard to red wolf mortality rates. They found that 72% of red wolf death was caused by humans, which included illegal killing, vehicle strikes, and private trapping. They also found that gunshots increased by 275% during hunting seasons. The increased gunshots accounted for 40.6% of breeding pair disbandment. Illegal killing also increased coyote encroachment. The increased coyote encroachment and breeding pair disbandment increased the chances of hybridization among coyotes and red wolves (5). Another study done in 2015 also found that increased gunshot disrupted breeding pairs, and anthropogenic mortality facilitated hybridization with coyotes. Anthropogenic mortality was responsible for 73.6% of red wolves breeding pairs disbandment. Among the different types of anthropogenic mortality, gunshots caused 71.2% of breeding pair disbandment. Since 2000, the coyote population and red wolf deaths by gunshot increased, and following gunshots, coyotes replaced red wolf mates, therefore increasing hybridization. It is also important to note a reason for increased gunshots on coyotes is due to the increased ability to hunt coyotes, and hunters often mistaking red wolves as coyotes (6). Current practices to avoid hybridization among coyotes and red wolves is to sterilize coyotes, and then these coyotes can act as placeholders to keep non-sterilized coyotes away from the red wolf packs. Additionally, any current hybrids that exist in the wild are euthanized to further avoid hybridization (7).

Not only do red wolves face the risk of anthropogenic mortality by gunshot and hybridization with coyotes, but there is also risk of death by vehicle. In the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, there are specific roads that are closed to the public, such as the Upper and Lower Creef Unites. These roads are closed to vehicle and food traffic. They are closed because of the growing visitation rates, which is putting pressure on the Milltail pack. People are getting too close as they are wanting to follow them and get pictures. This process is increasing the habituation of the wolves and can cause them to get too closure to humans and cars, and it could increase vehicle mortality (8). One of the recent deaths by vehicle was the breeding male red wolf 2323M in September 2023. 2323M was found dead along Highway 64 that ran through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Also, on December 22, 2023, Female pup 2510F was also killed along highway 264 due to vehicle strike as well (9). Back in 2021, there were 5 red wolves killed by vehicles. The first one was June 9th of 2021; Red Wolf 2216F was found dead along the edge of a rural road. Shortly after that in July 2021, two more were killed after being released from their acclimation pens: 2236M and 2310F. The issue is that many released red wolves do not know that roads risk getting killed, and many of them could be attracted to roadkill, therefore risking getting killed by vehicles themselves (10). However, even wild born red wolves are at risk for vehicle death. July 6th, 2021, 2186M was killed, then the following day, 2044M was found killed (11). While this is not an exhaustive list of all the vehicle deaths of red wolves, however, due to the limited numbers of red wolves in the wild, even one death has such a large effect on the population's ability to survive in the wild.

Proposed Solutions

To reduce vehicle collisions, one solution that can help to reduce vehicle death is to build wildlife crossings on Highway 64 that goes through the refuge. Until vehicle death can be truly addressed, instead, the only people that are allowed to drive through the park are those that work on the refugee, and to add more visible and more frequent signage along the refuge that red wolves may be around.

An example of what a wildlife crossing looks. Each one looks different based off the land, and where it is at, and what animals they are accommodating.



To address gunshots, the refugee should be considered as a non-hunting zone to avoid red wolves being mistaken as coyotes. If anyone does hunt on the refugee, there should either be fines, or a suspended hunting license for a certain amount of time. However, if hunting is going to exist near or on the area, all hunters should be able to easily distinguish the difference between coyotes and red wolves and know what differences to look for - body size, height, color, or fur type.

What Can You Do?

There is a petition started in November 2023 on change.org in response to the death of red wolf 2323M. Please find and sign it if you believe that wildlife crossings should be built! You can search it on change.org, and it is called Critically Endangered Red Wolves Are Dying On Our Roads-Demand Wildlife Crossings. Or you can scan the QR code below.



Recent Updates

A recent death of a two-year-old pup known as 2410M (Muppet) was killed on the highway 64. This is a devestating news as this red wolf hasn't had time to potentially mate or reproduce his own offspring, therefore further decreasing the fitness of this species. See more information here -

On the plus side, As of April 18th, 2024, a new litter of red wolves were born. See the most recent post from the Red Wolf Recovery Program on facebook!  Stay caught up to date on information regarding red wolves at these various websites!    

Citations

1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Red Wolf. USFWS. Red Wolf (Canis rufus) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

2. Philips, M, K., Henry, V, G., Kelly, B, T. (2003). Restoration of the Red Wolf. Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation, 272-287. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsnpwrc/319?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Fusgsnpwrc%2F319&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages

3. Santiago-Avila, F, J., Agan, S., Hinton, J, W., Treves, A. (2022). Evaluating how management policies affect red wolf mortality and disappearance. Royal Society Open Science. 9: 210400. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210400

4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Red Wolf Recovery Program. USFWS. Red Wolf Recovery Program | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

5. Agan, S, W., Treves, A., Willey, L, L. (2021). Estimating poaching risk for the critically red wolf (Canis rufus). Plos One, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244261

6. Hinton, J, W., Brzeski, K, E., Rabon Jr, D, R., Chamberlain, M, J. (2015). Effects of anthropogenic mortality on critically endangered red wolf Canis rufus breeding pairs: implications for red wolf recovery. Oryx, 51(1), 174-181. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605315000770

7. Bohling, J, H., Waits, L, P. (2015). Factors influencing red wolf-coyote Hybridization in Eastern North Carolina, USA. Biological Conservation, 184, 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.01.013

8. US. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2024). Current Road Conditions at alligator river national wildlife refugee. USFWS. Current Road Conditions at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

9. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Red Wolf Recovery Program. USFWS. Red Wolf Recovery Program | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

10. Davis, M. (2021). Each one, much too important to lose. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Each one, much too important to lose | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

11. Wolf Conservation Center. (2021). Two wild red wolves found dead in north Carolina reducing population to 9 known wolves. Wolf Conservation Center. Two Wild Red Wolves Found Dead in North Carolina, Reducing Population to 9 Known Wolves | Wolf Conservation Center (nywolf.org)