Threatened species of Canis rufus

Thought by public to be a serious threat to livestock; probably not true although red wolves may occasionally kill domestic animals. The belief that red wolves will destroy deer herds and domestic stock has caused their near complete extirpation. By 1970, only a tiny population of this species remained in a small area of woodland in far southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, and the continued existence of the species without human assistance appeared highly unlikely. In 1969 14 red wolves, carefully selected for the highest degree of genetic purity (the species is known to have interbred with coyotes as red wolf numbers declined) had been removed from the wild to begin a captive breeding effort to save the species from extinction. The success of this effort is not yet known.

Canis rufus is found in southeastern/south central United States. Its former range extended from Texas to Florida, and at least as far north as Missouri. Three subspecies are recognized: the Florida (extinct by 1930), Mississippi Valley, and Texas red wolf.

By 1970, only a tiny population of Canis rufus remained in a small area of woodland in far southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. The continued existence of the species without human assistance appeared highly unlikely.

In 1969 14 red wolves, carefully selected for the highest degree of genetic purity (the species is known to have interbred with coyotes as red wolf numbers declined) had been removed from the wild to begin a captive breeding effort to save the species from extinction.

By 1976, the first experimental attempt to restore wolves to natural habitat came with the release of several individuals onto a 5,000-acre Island located within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina.

1977 saw the total captive count of wolves at 35. By 1980, the red wolf was considered extinct in the wild. In 1987 came the first genuine release of the species, this time at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The wolves had reproduced there by the next year, and the first wild born wolves of the recovery program had come into existence. In the summer of '89, a second release was made at the refuge to aid reproduction. Because of the refuge's small size, fears arose that it would be unlikely to be able to support much more than a couple of dozen red wolves. By the mid '90s, however, there were over 50 wolves inhabiting the refuge, at least 37 of which were wild born. In 1993, the nearby Pocosin Lake National Wildlife Refuge was added to the reintroduction program, and two red wolf families were released there. Releases have also been made on protected islands in Mississippi, Florida, and North Carolina.

The red wolf recovery objective calls for a captive population of around 200 wolves and a wild stock of over 300 in order to maintain appropriate levels of genetic diversity. Today, there are approximately 275-300 red wolves alive, about 220 of which are captives. All of these wolves originate from the 14 animals taken from the wild back in 1969.

A genetic study performed in 1992 was unable to find any significant differences between red wolves and known grey wolf/coyote hybrids. However, it has been pointed out that there exists the possibility that these preliminary findings could be erroneous, so the status of the red wolf as a bona fide species, for the moment, stands.

The status of the species is considered as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN Red List.