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Canis rufus Audubon and Bachman, 1851
Red Wolf
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G1
State Rank: SX
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
2025 SGCN Priority Tier:
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Upland and lowland forests, shrublands and coastal prairies and marshes
The red wolf averages between the size of a gray wolf and a coyote. Average measurements are 143-165 cm (4.7-5.4 feet) in total length, with tail length 26-48 cm (10-18 inches), hind-foot length 17-27 cm (6.5-10 inches), ear length 9-13 cm (3.5-5 inches), and weighing 8-38.5 kg (17.5-85 pounds). Males are typically larger in size to females, with the average male weighing 20-38 kg (44-84 pounds) whereas females weigh 18-30 kg (40-66 pounds). Pelage varies in color, but is generally red interspersed with grey and black, cinnamon, or brownish. They have a bushy tail tipped with black. The throat and underside may possess white or cream coloration. The muzzle is narrow and elongate and tends to be lighter with white around the lips and eyes. Adults are adapted to southeastern climates and undergo an annual molt, having a lighter summer coat and thick winter coat. Young individuals are often mistaken for coyotes.
The red wolf is similar to other species of its genus, including gray wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and the eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus lyacon). The red wolf is larger than the coyote, but smaller than both the gray and timber wolf. Its fur is also redder and more sparsely furred than any of the other species.
Little is known about the habitat of red wolves, as most research did not occur until after the species was extirpated from the wild. They are considered habitat generalists, as they have been known to make use of a variety of habitat types as long as prey is abundant and human density is low. Red wolves historically utilized an expansive suite of habitat types, ranging from coastal prairie marsh, bayous, and fallow fields in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas, to bottomland river forests and swamps. The current population of red wolves is restricted to eastern North Carolina—the Red Wolf Recovery Experimental Population Area. This habitat consists of prairie marshes, pine stands, and agricultural fields. Red wolves require large tracts of land and have been shown to select more for wetland soil type habitats.
Red wolves prey upon a variety of mammals, including white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), racoon (Procyon lotor), nutria (Myocastor coypus), and multiple species of rabbits, small rodents, and birds. They are also known to feed on carrion.
Red wolves are social animals that tend to form packs withing their home range—although they are less social than gray wolves. Males generally have a home range extending about 116 km2 (45 square miles), while females’ ranges are smaller. They are highly territorial and known to den in a variety of sites such as underground in shallow surface depressions, hollow tree trunks, abandoned den sites of other animals, and along streambeds. They are primarily nocturnal hunters with crepuscular peaks in activity.
Individuals in the wild can live between 7-8 years with a 78% average annual survival per year. Red wolves are monogamous and both parents aid in raising their offspring. Helper wolves, or other wolves within the pack, also help with raising pups. Mating season occurs from January to March, and pups are whelped from mid-April to mid-May. Breeding females average 1-8 pups per litter, though sometimes litters of 12 pups occur. Pups are typically tolerated in their native home range until they are dispersal age, which typically occurs when juveniles reach sexual maturity between two and three years of age. After dispersal, young individuals will often form non-breeding packs, a method used by red wolves to avoid inbreeding. Red wolves are also known to hybridize with coyotes, which has sparked debates about the validity of the species.
Less than 20 wolves in two breeding packs can be found in wild populations in North Carolina. A pack is made up of a dominant breeding pair as well as offspring from previous years. Packs scent mark to maintain their territory, depending on the food resources available. Lone, transient wolves tend to occur when mates have died.
There are not viable populations of red wolves in Georgia, so there are currently no survey recommendations. However, within North Carolina, the remaining population is closely monitored through trapping using padded foot hold traps and GPS radio collars.
Distribution of red wolves once extended across the eastern and south-central United States. It was reported that the historic range also extended north into Pennsylvania and potentially into Canada. Red wolves were reintroduced into eastern North Carolina by the USFWS in 1987. They can currently be found in five counties: Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington. There are current populations of red wolves for propagation purposes located in Bulls Island, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina and St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Many breeding programs contain captive individuals throughout the United States for reproduction and genetic conservation research in hopes to release wolves into wild populations.
Loss of habitat has been a serious threat to red wolves. Hybridization with coyotes is the primary threat to the species persistence in the wild. Genetic diversity is compromised with hybridization with coyotes and has been reported that only one hybrid out of every 59 litters within the population in North Carolina will be able to be sustained for the next 100 years. To combat this threat, coyote hunting was increased in the area that red wolves are known to inhabit. However, human-wolf conflicts are also a threat as incidents with mortality from vehicle collisions, gunshots, traps, and poison have been reported. Red wolves are highly susceptible to a variety of viral diseases including canine distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus. Tick born illnesses from infestations from American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), and black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) are also threats to the species. Habitat loss has also threatened the recovery of red wolves. Large carnivores typically need large areas to use as a home range, and development by humans continues to shrink suitable habitat. Typically, red wolves do not have natural enemies or predators in the wild. Young or injured individuals have been reported to be killed by black bears (Ursus americanus), alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), raptors, and coyotes.
Red wolves were extirpated from Georgia throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Currently, there are no known populations of red wolves in Georgia, but they are listed federally as a critically endangered species.
Federal protection as an endangered species has shown to be successful for reintroduction and recovery promotion of red wolves in North Carolina. Another reintroduction program was initiated in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee in the early 1990’s, however few of the 37 individuals survived. Other recovery programs have been successful in rearing captive individuals and promoting a breeding program to encourage the success and genetic integrity of the species in hopes for successful release programs in the future. Recovery focuses on protection and promotion of non-hybridizing. Evidence shows that hybridizing can be limited through the introduction of sterilized coyotes, which saturates available habitat with canids. Biological factors such as habitat availability and prey abundance are important considerations for future reintroduction sites. Public support and education in the awareness of red wolf conservation and management is also crucial for the success of the species.
Carley, C. J. 1979. Status summary: The red wolf (Canis rufus). Endangered Species Report 7:1–35. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Crawford, B. A., C. F. Lucash, and V. G. Henry. 2001. Red Wolf. Pages 240–247 in J. Dickson, editor. Wildlife of the Southern forests: Habitat and management. Hancock House, Blaine, Washington, USA.
Kanine J. and M.T. Mengak. 2011. Red Wolf (Canis rufus). Natural History Publication Series NHS-11-13.
Kelly, B. T., A. Beyer, and M. K. Phillips. 2004. Red wolf. Pages 87–92 in C. Sillero-Zubiri, M. Hoffmann, and D. Macdonald, editors. Canids: Foxes, wolves, jackals, and dogs. IUCN, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Kelly, B.T., Beyer, A. & Phillips, M.K. 2008. Canis rufus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T3747A10057394. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3747A10057394.en. Accessed 26 November 2017.
Paradiso, J. L., and R. M. Nowak. 1972b. Canis rufus. Mammalian Species 22:1–4.
Phillips, M. K., V. G. Henry, and B. T. Kelly. 2003. Restoration of the red wolf. Pages 272–288 in L. D. Mech and L. Boitani, editors. Wolves: Behavior, ecology, and conservation. University of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Phillips, M. K., R. Smith, V. G. Henry, and C. Lucas. 1995. Red wolf reintroduction program. Pages 157–168 in L. Carbyn, S. Fritts, and D. Seip, editors. Ecology and conservation of wolves in a changing world. Occasional Publication 35. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Riley, G. A., and R. T. McBride. 1972. A survey of the red wolf (Canis rufus). U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report-Wildlife 162:1–15. Russell, D. N., and J. H. Shaw. 1971. Distribution and relative density of the red wolf in Texas. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners 25:131–137.
Seeley K.E., M.M. Garner, W.T. Waddell, and K.N. Wolf. 2016. A SURVEY OF DISEASES IN CAPTIVE RED WOLVES (CANIS RUFUS), 1997–2012. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 47: 83–90.
Stoskopf, M. K., K. Beck, B. B. Fazio, T. K. Fuller, E. M. Gese, B. T. Kelly, F. F. Knowlton, D. L. Murray, W. Waddell, and L. Waits. 2005. From the field: Implementing recovery of the red wolf – integrating research scientists and managers. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:1145–1152.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2024. Red Wolf (Canis rufus) 5-year Status Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Khiara Reed and Eryn Watson
C. Groce, Oct. 2023: compiled and updated