The Red Wolf by Courtney Petrella

Courtney Petrella BIO 227

 https://biodiversitywarriors.wikispaces.com/Red+Wolf

The Red Wolf  "Canis Rufus”

One of the World’s Most Endangered Wild Canids

When brainstorming a list of endangered species, many people may remember the infamous story of the recovery of the gray wolf in Yosemite National Park; however, most people don’t know that the red wolf, the only other wolf species that resides in North America is also critically endangered. Like most gray wolves and coyotes, red wolves weigh 45-80 lb. and stand approximately 26 in. at the shoulder. They are social animals that live in packs and are most

The red region displays where a small population of red wolves
currently reside. (http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/aboutrecovery.html)

active during dusk and dawn to avoid human interaction. The red wolf can be distinguished from other wolves by its reddish colored fur, hence their name. Red wolves also tends to prey on raccoons, rabbits, white-tailed deer, and other rodents. Most importantly, the red wolf’s population is at a much higher risk of extinction than other wolves, with only about 50 individuals living in the wild in the eastern North Carolina region.

The Howl for Help
The descriptions of wolves across North America were first documented in the early 1500’s. At that time, it was believed that all the wolves in North America, although with different characteristics, were all from the same species. It wasn’t until 1851 that Audubon and Bachman suggested that the wolf that occupied he southern states was in fact an entirely different species than those of the north. The red wolf, unlike the gray wolf and coyote, adapted to the southeastern United States.

Red Wolf Howl
 (http://www.whitewolfpack.com/ 2013_11_01_archive.html)

Unfortunately, the red wolf was exterminated from most of its range in the early part of the century, leaving behind very few clues for scientists to put together to describe its life history. Research has shown that red wolves thrive in habitats similar to agricultural lands, which supports the belief that red wolves caused widespread cattle losses that led to extensive predator control programs during that time. However, they are can habituate many forests and wetlands, which suggests that in regards to habitat they are generalists and able to adapt to most setting that a prey species populates. Fear and misunderstanding of the animals led to killing for bounties. The red wolf was also affected by forest habitat destruction by land clearing and drainage projects, logging, mineral exploration, and road development.

Interbreeding with the coyote (an exotic species not native to North Carolina) has been recognized as the most significant and detrimental threat affecting recovery of red wolves in their native habitat. Currently, adaptive management efforts are attempting to

Graph displaying the importance of multiple founders
to promote genetic diversity. (http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/901026.pdf)

reduce the threat of coyotes while building the wild red wolf population. Coyotes were almost unheard of in the North Carolina region until the 1990s, when many populations established themselves. The IUCN’s description of the red wolf mentions, “it has been estimated that the red wolf population in North Carolina can only sustain one hybrid litter out of every 59 to maintain 90% of its genetic diversity for the next 100 years.” 

If the hybridization rates of 1999 continued at the same level, the red wolf species could disappear in 3-6 generations. 

Without hybridization, the full recovery of the red wolf is completely possible; therefore, reducing the number of coyotes to prevent hybridization is the main focus of the Red Wolf Recovery Team at this time.

Protection for the Pack

A pack of Red Wolves
(http://www.glogster.com/erincr/ red-wolf-project/ g-6lu0sguv915bonul9aj04a0)

The red wolf was one of the first species to gain the attention of the US Fish & Wildlife Service after it passed the Endangered Act in 1973. A small recovery team was assigned to the species in August 4, 1974 to protect the species until it was officially listed as endangered in January of 1975. After documenting that the species was truly declining and studying the red wolf’s basic ecology and natural history, it was apparent that the only glimmer of hope for the species’s survival was to catch as many individuals and start a captive-breeding program in order to steadily increase the population. In 1980, the red wolf population went completely extinct in the wild, with the only remaining individuals in captivity. The red wolf has also been on the IUCN Red List as “endangered” since 1982 and “critically endangered” from 1996 until now. The ESA and IUCN are now taking significant steps to reduce the major threats to the red wolf population and bolster their success in the wild.

Rufus to Recovery
The US Fish & Wildlife Service drafted a recovery strategy for the red wolf species. The overall goal of the plan was to create distinct populations of red wolves, through reintroducing wolves that were born as a part of an intensive captive breeding program, that are capable of enduring nature’s evolutionary processes. This goal is similar to almost all recovering populations in that they are self-sustaining with as little of human interaction as possible.

The objectives defined in the recovery strategy specific to red wolves were:

1. To preserve 80 to 90 percent of genetic diversity of the species in 150 years.

2. To remove those threats that have the potential to bring about extinction of the species (Approx. 220 animals in the wild and 330 in captivity).

3. To maintain the red wolf in perpetuity through cryogenic preservation of super and embryo banking.

Graph that shows the distribution of males and females in 1989. 
(http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/901026.pdf)

The ESA’s recovery strategy then goes into depth about each aspect of the plan and a schedule of when each step should be implemented in order to save the red wolf population.

To begin, the ESA noticed the need for a full-time coordinator designated specifically to the red wolf population that “provides leadership, establishes annual objectives and goals, develops budgetary needs, and serves as a spokesperson of the program. This coordinator would also be the manager of a Red Wolf Recovery Team, composed of individuals with specific education and training to carry out the recovery plan.

http://sisterofthewolves.tumblr.com/post/

55779340561/picture-source-differences- between-gray-wolves

To reintroduce the wolves bred in captivity, the ESA proposed reestablishing three or more wild populations of about 70 individuals each within their historic range. The first step of this aspect would be to define where these reintroduction sites will be and develop a list in order of the most suitable for the species. The team would then need to go in priority order and examine these potential sites for the essential needs of red wolves, as well as the outside factors, such as the proximity to towns and communities. A poll of the community members would need to measure how the general pubic will respond to a reintroduction site in the area. The team would also need to research and experiment with the canid interactions the wolves may have, such as coyotes or dogs. The plan includes releasing red wolves near coyote populations in the area and studying their movements and interactions. Coyotes are one of the main threats to the recovery of the red wolf because they hybridize together, which limits the stability of the red wolf’s genetic diversity. As pictured, the two species are incredibly similar, but their offspring are known to enter human habitat, acting problematic and violent.

The priority list will then need to be updated with the new information about each site. Beginning with the most suitable sites, the Red Wolf Recovery Team will begin coordinating with the local officials and residents to create a detailed reintroduction proposal and draft the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) documents. Throughout this process, the team also needs to conduct public meetings to exercise a respectful media relationship. Precautions would then be put into place to make the site ready for introduction; equipment would also be purchased to transport and acclimate the wolves to their new environment.

The next step would be to introduce the red wolves. While becoming acclimated, they should be fed a native prey species and kept away from human disturbance. The red wolves should then be released; the spring and summer is usually the best since there is an abundance of young, naïve prey species available. After release, the tracked wolves should be monitored, as well as the population size of the prey species, to make sure both are stable. An assessment will then be made on the successfulness of the reintroduction based on various biological parameters. Documentation and keeping the public aware of the project status are also very important aspects of the plan.

This process would be continued until 3 or more reintroduction sites have been successful. Acquisition of additional lands would also help promote the red wolf population, as well as the development of captive breeding facilities near these areas to safeguard the genetic diversity of the red wolves. The last and final step of the recovery plan would be to develop a strategy to preserve red wolf sperm and embryo in banks to safeguard the species in case of a unexpected outside factor acting on the populations.

In 1987, enough red wolves were bred in captivity to begin restoration program on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. Since then, the experimental population area has expanded to include three national wildlife refugees as planned, a Department of Defense bombing range, state-owned lands, and private property, spanning a total of 1.7 million acres.

An estimated 5-75 red wolves roam the wild of northeastern North Carolina and another 178 comprise the captive breeding program, still an essential element of the red wolf recovery.

What Can You Do?
Adopt a Red Wolf- a symbolic adoption that actually helps save real animals in the wild
https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?
pagename=wagc_redwolf&s_src=3WEW1600XXXXX&s_subsrc=120415_adopt_b ody_red-wolf/what-you-can-do
Send a Letter to Government Leaders about Red Wolves
http://www.defenders.org/take-action/actions
Become a Powerful Advocate for Wildlife
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife-advocate-center

Stay Informed! Receive instant alerts and updates in important issues facing red wolves and other wildlife.
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Become a Defender of Wildlife
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Sources
US Fish & Wildlife Service, Red Wolf Recovery Plan
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/901026.pdf
Wolf Conservation Center, Red Wolf History
http://nywolf.org/our-wolves/ssp/red-wolves/134-red-wolf-history
Defenders of Wildlife, What You Can Do to Help Red Wolves
http://www.defenders.org/red-wolf/what-you-can-do
IUCN Red List of Endangered Species
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/3747/0
Live Video Footage of Red Wolf Enclosure: 
http://nywolf.org/wolf-cam/ red-wolves-ex2/enclosure