Red WolfRed Wolf

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered

According to the USA Wildlife According to the USA Wildlife Service, the Red Wolf is one of Service, the Red Wolf is one of the most endangered animals the most endangered animals in the world. in the world.

Once a top predator of the Once a top predator of the food chain ranging across the food chain ranging across the Southeast USA, only 100 Southeast USA, only 100 wolves were alive in the 1970s wolves were alive in the 1970s

This is the Red Wolf story.This is the Red Wolf story.

Evolutionary History and RangeEvolutionary History and Range Paleontological evidence Paleontological evidence

suggested wolves first appeared as suggested wolves first appeared as a separate species about 1-2 a separate species about 1-2 million years ago, branching from a million years ago, branching from a wolf-coyote ancestorwolf-coyote ancestor

Between 150,000–300,000 years Between 150,000–300,000 years ago, the North American branch ago, the North American branch evolved into the Red Wolf. It may evolved into the Red Wolf. It may not be a true species; rather, the not be a true species; rather, the Red Wolf is possibly a cross Red Wolf is possibly a cross between a Gray Wolf and a coyote. between a Gray Wolf and a coyote. The Red Wolf survived when it The Red Wolf survived when it became isolated from other species became isolated from other species of wolvesof wolves

The original geographic distribution The original geographic distribution of the Red Wolf included much of of the Red Wolf included much of South-Eastern North America South-Eastern North America including Florida, Georgia, including Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana and parts Mississippi and Louisiana and parts of Texasof Texas

FactsFacts The Red Wolf is a large carnivore The Red Wolf is a large carnivore

mammal. An adult can grow to a mammal. An adult can grow to a length of 4.5 feet and can weigh length of 4.5 feet and can weigh up to 35 kilogramsup to 35 kilograms

Red wolves live in a variety of Red wolves live in a variety of habitats including swamps, habitats including swamps, forests, wetlands and bush landsforests, wetlands and bush lands

Their diet consists of rodents, Their diet consists of rodents, rabbits and other small rabbits and other small mammals, as well as larger mammals, as well as larger mammals such as deermammals such as deer

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

The Red Wolf is generally The Red Wolf is generally intermediate in size between a intermediate in size between a Grey Wolf and a Coyote. Grey Wolf and a Coyote.

A Red Wolf pup begins with a A Red Wolf pup begins with a dark gray pelt. As it matures, dark gray pelt. As it matures, the Red Wolf’s pelt becomes a the Red Wolf’s pelt becomes a cinnamon colour with a black cinnamon colour with a black tipped tail.tipped tail.

Scientific name is Scientific name is Canis rufusCanis rufus

ExtinctionExtinction The Red Wolf was declared endangered The Red Wolf was declared endangered

in 1973 with only small, remnant wild in 1973 with only small, remnant wild populations found in remote parts of populations found in remote parts of Louisiana and Texas. Louisiana and Texas.

By1980, the Red Wolf was officially By1980, the Red Wolf was officially extinct in the wildextinct in the wild

The species was wiped out due to The species was wiped out due to intensive human actions (e.g., hunting, intensive human actions (e.g., hunting, predator control, forest clearing and predator control, forest clearing and other habitat destruction) other habitat destruction)

Only 17 wolf pairs survived in this period Only 17 wolf pairs survived in this period – all in captivity.– all in captivity.

ReintroductionReintroduction

A breeding program called the Red A breeding program called the Red Wolf Species Survival Program was Wolf Species Survival Program was started, and by 1987, enough red started, and by 1987, enough red wolves had been raised in captivity wolves had been raised in captivity to start a reintroduction program in to start a reintroduction program in the Alligator River National Wildlife the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Refuge in North Carolina.

The experimental repopulation area The experimental repopulation area has been expanded to include three has been expanded to include three national wildlife refuges, national wildlife refuges, government-owned lands and private government-owned lands and private property, totalling 1.7 million acres.property, totalling 1.7 million acres.

By 2011, the Red Wolf was By 2011, the Red Wolf was

successfully surviving in 21 states successfully surviving in 21 states including much of its historic range including much of its historic range and part of Northeastern and and part of Northeastern and Northwestern USANorthwestern USA

Ideas and Possible SolutionsIdeas and Possible Solutions Formal efforts, backed by the Formal efforts, backed by the

U.S Fish and the Wildlife U.S Fish and the Wildlife Services, were began in 1973. Services, were began in 1973. To save the Red Wolf a To save the Red Wolf a breeding program was breeding program was establishedestablished

Reduce the amount of forest Reduce the amount of forest clearing and protect habitats in clearing and protect habitats in the historic range of Red the historic range of Red WolvesWolves

Introduce laws and rules to Introduce laws and rules to manage hunting in populated manage hunting in populated Red Wolf areasRed Wolf areas

Provide educational materials Provide educational materials to schools and start an “Adopt-to schools and start an “Adopt-a-Red Wolf” programa-Red Wolf” program

BibliographyBibliography http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?gr=M&mphttp://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?gr=M&mp

=1&sp=938=1&sp=938

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

http://www.google.ca/imgres?http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=red+wolf+pictures&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1024&bih=571q=red+wolf+pictures&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1024&bih=571&tbm=isch&tbnid=QO2pTRUO7zgSlM:&imgrefurl=http://&tbm=isch&tbnid=QO2pTRUO7zgSlM:&imgrefurl=http://wallpapers-animal.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-wallpapers-animal.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-wolf.html&docid=Onp7chweZjM6JM&imgurl=http://wolf.html&docid=Onp7chweZjM6JM&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lo8n1_ejGIc/SxB-7scM1TI/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lo8n1_ejGIc/SxB-7scM1TI/AAAAAAAAL_0/XJfVyxYrO4Y/s1600/AAAAAAAAL_0/XJfVyxYrO4Y/s1600/r5.jpg&w=754&h=1159&ei=GvHVT_alB6Pp6gHmyvGGAr5.jpg&w=754&h=1159&ei=GvHVT_alB6Pp6gHmyvGGAw&zoom=1w&zoom=1