States
North CarolinaRed Wolf Recovery Program
2024-2025 Release Plan available NOW...click HERE!
- Taxon: Mammal
- Range: Eastern North Carolina
- Status: First listed as 鈥渢hreatened with extinction鈥� under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 in 1967. Currently listed as an "endangered species" under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
- Population estimate as of August 2025:
- Known/collared (wild): 18
- Total estimate (wild): 28-31
- Red Wolf SAFE (captive): 280
Red Wolf Recovery Program Updates - August 2025
Celebrating Significant Milestones in Red Wolf Conservation
Here are the latest pup season and management updates from the Eastern North Carolina Red Wolf Population area. We want to highlight the progress of conservation efforts and acknowledge that these achievements would be impossible without the collaboration of our partners and the landowners of Eastern North Carolina.
Significant Milestone: The Birth of Red Wolf Pups to 2503F and 2191M
On Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), we observed a significant change in the Milltail family group.
The previous matriarch, 2225F, who had a litter each of the last three years, is no longer the breeding female. Her daughter, 2503F, has taken her place and paired with 2191M. He was born at Wolf Haven International as part of the SAFE American Red Wolf program and released into the wild in January 2024. Together, they had a litter of eight pups鈥攆our females and four males鈥攊n mid-April.
Pup Timeline:
- 10 days old: Biologists entered the den to conduct health checks, take DNA samples using cheek swabs, and microchip the pups for future identification.
- 5 weeks old: We hand-captured five pups and assisted Dr. Chris Ford and Ashley Swayne from Chowan Animal Hospital in administering vaccinations and implanting small abdominal transmitters in four of them. These transmitters allow us to track their locations and monitor their growth.
All evidence from our monitoring indicates that the litter continues to do well and at least 5 of the pups are known to have survived thus far. Also, recent monitoring shows that 2225F is helping raise the pups, which contributes to the pups' chances of survival.
Please remember to give this family group, and all Red Wolves, lots of space,a minimum of 100 yards (approximately the length of 8 school buses or a football field). Follow all National Wildlife Refuge closures and area restrictions to prevent growing Red Wolves from becoming habituated to people or cars which can be dangerous for their future.
Significant Milestone: The Pairing of Red Wolves 2359F and 2443M
In early 2024, we attempted to create a breeding pair with two Red Wolves: 2359F, a wild female originally fostered into a wild den from Akron Zoo in 2021, and 2443M, born at the Endangered Wolf Center. Both facilities are part of the SAFE American Red Wolf program, dedicated to the conservation of this species.
These two Red Wolves were placed in an acclimation pen at Pocosin Lakes NWR in February 2024. Although they did not produce a litter initially, we remained hopeful. Based on previous unsuccessful releases of males from the SAFE population when an attempt to pair them with a wild female didn鈥檛 result in a litter, 2359F was released back into the wild in June 2024, but the decision was made that 2443M would remain in the acclimation pen. 2359F dispersed away from the area of the acclimation pen after release.
In November 2024, during the Red Wolf bonding period, 2443M was released into the wild. This decision came after observing 2359F return to the area of the acclimation pen and frequently interacting with 2443M through the fence, indicating her interest in him. Upon his release, the two immediately paired and successfully mated a few months later.
Tragically, in mid-February 2025, 2443M was struck by a vehicle on the refuge and did not survive. This loss was a stark reminder of the dangers wildlife face, even within protected areas. However, his legacy lives on through his offspring. In early April, 2359F gave birth to a litter of three pups鈥攖wo females and one male. Monitoring through tracking and remote cameras indicates that the litter is thriving in the wild.
The death of 2443M reminds us of the importance of adhering to refuge closures and being mindful of speed limits on and off refuge roads. These measures are crucial for the safety of both wildlife and visitors. As we celebrate the new life brought into the world by 2359F, let us also commit to protecting wildlife and their habitats.
Significant Milestone: Red Wolves 2409F, 2371M and Their Pups
Born in May 2023 at the Endangered Wolf Center, a SAFE American Red Wolf facility, 2409F was released into the wild as a juvenile alongside her parents in Spring 2023.
In October 2024, reports from the public of an injured Red Wolf led to us capturing 2409F, who was found with a severe, potentially life-threatening leg injury, likely from an animal bite. After several weeks of treatment, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine 2409F was on the road to recovery.
Once healed, 2409F was placed in an acclimation pen on Alligator River NWR, with 2371M, a Red Wolf male from the SAFE population where he had been in an enclosure several acres in size that was not open to public viewing.
In mid-April, 2409F gave birth to three pups. While one pup did not survive the first week, the remaining two (one female and one male) survived.
When the pups were about five weeks old, we assisted Dr. Chris Ford and Ashley Swayne from Chowan Animal Hospital to vaccinate and fit the pups with small abdominal transmitters. These transmitters are essential for tracking their movements and assisting with their protection once released.
In late May, the newly formed family group was released from the acclimation pen appearing to transition seamlessly into the wild as a new family group. This release highlights the importance of continued collaboration with our conservation partners and landowners.
Significant Milestone: Red Wolf 2412F, 2500M and Their Pups
Born into the Milltail family group on Alligator River NWR in 2022, 2412F represents the first Red Wolf litter born in the wild in several years. Her story, and that of her new family, highlights the critical work being done to ensure the survival and genetic diversity of the Red Wolf population.
2412F dispersed from the Milltail area but has remained within the Alligator River NWR. Due to the low population numbers, finding unrelated mates is challenging, which is why the release of additional adult Red Wolves from the SAFE America Red Wolf program is so vital. In the absence of an unrelated mate, 2412F paired with 2500M, who was born into the Milltail family group a year after her in 2023. Together, they had a litter of six pups (three females and three males) in mid-April.
In effort to enhance the genetic diversity of both the wild and SAFE populations and managing the number of offspring from this pair in the wild, the Red Wolf Recovery Program and the SAFE American Red Wolf program implemented a cross-foster for the first time. When the wild litter was about two weeks old, one male pup from the North Carolina Zoo was placed into the wild litter, and four pups (two females and two males) from the wild litter were placed at the North Carolina Zoo, leaving a litter of three in the wild den. As of early August, monitoring with remote sensing cameras has confirmed that all three of the pups in the wild litter remain on the landscape indicating that the cross foster was successful.
As these young Red Wolves grow and become more mobile, it is crucial to give this family group plenty of space. Please maintain a minimum distance of 100 yards (approximately the length of eight school buses or a football field) and adhere to all refuge closures and area restrictions. This helps prevent the Red Wolves from becoming habituated to people or cars, which can be dangerous for their future.
Significant Milestone: Red Wolves 2413F and 2380M
In the ongoing efforts to conserve Red Wolves, every new potential pairing and release into the wild is a step forward.
Earlier this year, 2413F was placed in an acclimation pen on Alligator River NWR with 2380M (from the Endangered Wolf Center, a SAFE American Red Wolf facility). The acclimation pen allows them to acclimate to each other as well as the area, a crucial step for their success in the wild.
Although 2413F and 2380M did not have pups this year, this was likely due to their attempted pairing late in the Red Wolf bonding period. After their release in late May they did not remain together. The hope is that they will reconnect during the Red Wolf bonding period this fall or that 2380M will naturally pair with a different wild Red Wolf female.
Summary
All adult/subadult Red Wolves are fitted with orange collars with orange reflective material, making them more easily identifiable. With the recent release of these two adult Red Wolves and the birth of new pups, the current known population of red wolves stands at 18 adults/subadults, with as many as 16 pups on the landscape. However, based on extensive monitoring it is currently believed the number of pups is likely closer to the 10-12 range. To ensure the safety and well-being of these pups and their family groups, monitoring will be conducted from a distance as the pups grow and become more mobile. Pup survival in the wild is about 50% so every little bit of extra caution helps.
The stories of wild Red Wolf females 2503F, 2409F, 2413F, and 2412F, along with males 2371M, 2380M and 2443M released from the SAFE population, highlight the resilience of the species and the dedication involved in their conservation. Each Red Wolf's journey underscores the importance of innovative conservation strategies, collaboration, and the support of landowners, conservation partner, refuge visitors and so many others.
Family Groups
The Milltail breeding female (2225F), 5 yearlings (2410M, 2411M, 2412F, 2413F and 2414F) and 6 pups (as of September 2023) remain within their expected area of use on Alligator River NWR.
The breeding pair (2361F and 2307M) and 2 pups (as of September 2023) remain within their expected area of use on and around Pocosin Lakes NWR.
Program History
The recovery of the Red Wolf began as a remarkable conservation success story. By 1972, the species was reduced to a small coastal area in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana (see map above). From 1973-1980, the Service began trapping wild canids in the area to prevent extinction of the species and establish a captive breeding program with the intention of reintroducing the species in the wild. In the early 1970鈥檚, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, in association with the Service, established a captive-breeding program using 14 Red Wolves. After numbers continued to decline due to human persecution and habitat loss, the Red Wolf was subsequently declared extinct in the wild in 1980.
In 1984, the captive breeding program was approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, which provides oversight for maintaining a healthy and genetically diverse stock under human care. By this time, there were approximately 63 individuals in the SSP population and the program was actively growing the population through the coordinated efforts of the SSP partner facilities, making reintroduction efforts possible.
Recovery efforts in the wild began in northeastern North Carolina with the establishment of what is referred to today as the Eastern North Carolina Red Wolf Population (ENC RWP) under section 10(j) of the ESA and release of Red Wolves from the SSP population, on Alligator River NWR in 1987. Between 1987 and 1994, over 60 adult red wolves from the SSP population were released into the ENC RWP. By the mid-1990s, Red Wolves in the wild maintained territories, formed packs, and successfully bred. By 2011, this reintroduction effort culminated in a known population (e.g. radio-collared) of 89 Red Wolves and in 2012 an estimated population as high as 120 Red Wolves within the five-county ENC RWP area. This was the first time a large carnivore had been declared extinct in the wild and then reintroduced in the United States. It set the stage for several subsequent reintroduction efforts that were modeled after the Red Wolf Recovery Program, such as gray wolves in Yellowstone and central Idaho, Mexican wolves in the southwestern U.S., California condors, and black-footed ferrets. Several innovative recovery tactics were first attempted by this program, with a great deal of success, including pup fostering and coyote sterilizations.
In 1990, the Service established an island propagation site for the Red Wolf at St. Vincent NWR, an isolated island off the Gulf Coast of Florida. The role of this site is to propagate Red Wolf pups in a somewhat controlled, but natural environment that will provide them with a wild experience as juveniles for the purpose of being strategically translocated into the wild.
Recovery
Recovery Revised Recovery Plan for the Red Wolf (Canis rufus)
Red Wolf Recovery Vision
In the future, wild and free Red Wolves will coexist with humans in multiple viable populations across the historic range, where ongoing threats are effectively ameliorated through conservation activities, the public鈥檚 trust and engagement, and aligned policies among all involved with Red Wolf recovery. The recovery of the Red Wolf will provide a strong sense of community ownership, cultural importance, and pride, in line with the values of the communities in which they occur.
On September 29, 2023, the Service released the final Revised Recovery Plan for the Red Wolf (Canis rufus). This revised recovery plan was developed by the Red Wolf Recovery Team, a collaborative partnership consisting of Tribal Nation representatives, State and Federal agencies, County government, academia, zoos/conservation centers, non-profit
organizations, non-governmental organizations, and landowners, assembled in July 2021. The Red Wolf Recovery Plan was last revised in 1990.
The Recovery Team followed the Service鈥檚 Recovery Planning and Implementation Process, a three-document approach consisting of:
1. A Species Status Assessment (SSA) 鈥� Completed in 2018, this document evaluates red wolf viability and provides the foundational biological information to develop and support a recovery plan.
2. A Recovery Plan 鈥� A concise, visionary document that contains the elements required under section 4(f)(1)(B) of the ESA: recovery criteria, recovery actions, and time and cost estimates.
3. A Recovery Implementation Strategy 鈥� An itemization of the prioritized on-the-ground activities needed to implement the actions identified in the recovery plan. Development of the Recovery Implementation Strategy is under way by the Red Wolf Recovery Team and is expected to be completed in 2024.
At the same time the revised recovery plan was released, the Service also released the Population Viability Analysis of the Red Wolf (PVA), which was used to inform the final recovery plan. Frequently asked questions can also be found on our website.
The plan underscores the Service鈥檚 commitment to working with others to conserve the Red Wolf. Collaborative conservation is foundational to the successful recovery of the species and the Service will continue to strive to align our work with the needs of communities and contributors involved in Red Wolf recovery.
SAFE Red Wolf Population
Since 1984, the Service has partnered with the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) to manage the captive Red Wolf population under AZA鈥檚 Species Survival Plan program, now part of the broader AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program. The SAFE Red Wolf program focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species. The SAFE Red Wolf program鈥檚 goal is to support conservation efforts for this species by maintaining a healthy and viable population of Red Wolves, growing education and awareness efforts, and aiding research vital to supporting recovery and management.
Captive breeding saved the Red Wolf from extinction and is an essential component of Red Wolf recovery. Past releases of Red Wolves from the SAFE population into the ENC
RWP helped the wild Red Wolf population reach a peak of 120 animals in 2012. Although captive Red Wolves are located throughout the country at different SAFE Red Wolf facilities, they are managed as a single population. They are routinely transferred among the facilities to breed according to genetic management objectives to help maintain the health and diversity of an increasing population.
Human contact with Red Wolves in the SAFE population is minimized to promote avoidance behavior and to support pair bonding, breeding, pup rearing, and healthy pack structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure . They are evaluated and selected for release to the wild based on their genetic makeup, reproductive performance, behavior, and physical suitability.
In 2016, the Service made increasing the size of the Red Wolf population under human care (the captive population - see Red Wolf SAFE section) a priority. The Service stated it would provide resources and work with its partners to expand space capacity. To date, the Service has provided $771,000 through FY18, FY19, and FY20 Recovery Challenge Grants for the construction of 20 additional Red Wolf enclosures.
In the 2024-2025 breeding season, 29 breeding pairs were established and 43 pups in 12 litters were born - of which 26 survived, adding to the SAFE population. Historically, whelping success was around 25%; for the last 3 years success has been 45%, 38%, and 46%. Historically, pup survival was around 65%; for the last 3 years, survival has been 72%, 79%, and 67%. As of August 2025, there are approximately 280 Red Wolves in SAFE facilities across the country. With the addition of 3 new partners, there are 52 SAFE Red Wolf facilities total. For the 2025-2026 breeding season, 33 breeding pairs have been recommended.
Wild Population
Under Section 10(j) of the ESA, the Service can designate reintroduced populations established outside of the species鈥� current range, but within its historical range, as 鈥渆xperimental.鈥� This designation allows the Service to reestablish self-sustaining populations when doing so fosters its conservation and recovery.
Currently, there is only one wild population of Red Wolves, the ENC RWP in eastern North Carolina, which encompasses five counties of the Albemarle Peninsula in eastern North Carolina (Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties). Management of the ENC RWP Red Wolves is conducted in accordance with the 10(j) rule published in 1995, as clarified by relevant court orders. Notably, this includes a permanent injunction prohibiting take of Red Wolves either directly or by landowner authorization, without first demonstrating that the Red Wolf is a threat to human safety or the safety of livestock or pets. Additionally, the 1995 rule recognizes the Service鈥檚 authority to release additional Red Wolves and conduct adaptive management within the ENC RWP.
Past reintroductions into the ENC RWP helped support a wild Red Wolf population as high as 120 animals (89 radio collared) in 2012. After peaking, the population declined dramatically. Human-caused mortality (e.g., gunshots, vehicle strikes) has been the leading cause of this decline. Hybridization with coyotes, which is exacerbated by human-
caused mortality, particularly in breeding pairs, and low Red Wolf population numbers also played a key role in this decline.
The Service is committed to seeing Red Wolf numbers increased within the ENC RWP. The Service will continue to collar all captured Red Wolves with bright orange collars with orange reflective material to help the public distinguish them from coyotes. Currently, all known, collared adult Red Wolves have orange collars. The Service is also continuing releases of Red Wolves from the SAFE population into the ENC RWP, pup fostering when able, and conducting adaptive management. See below for management activities implemented to attempt to create Red Wolf breeding pairs in eastern North Carolina.
The current population is 18 known/collared Red Wolves and an estimated total population of 25-30 Red Wolves. The total population is an estimate based on known radio-collared Red Wolves, adult Red Wolves with radio collars that quit functioning relatively recently that are likely still on the landscape, pups of the years that are too small to be collared, and an additional few un-collared adult Red Wolves that could potentially be on the landscape based on reported sightings and remote sensing cameras. The Service does not currently have any evidence to suggest there are any uncollared adult Red Wolves within the ENC RWP or any Red Wolves with non-functioning collars.
Known/Collared Red Wolves:
| ID | Sex | Reflective ID |
|---|---|---|
| 2191 | Male | T |
| 2225 | Female | n/a |
| 2307 | Male | C |
| 2359 | Female | 4 |
| 2361 | Female | D |
| 2371 | Male | 1 |
| 2380 | Male | B |
| 2409 | Female | K |
| 2411 | Male | R |
| 2412 | Female | M |
| 2413 | Female | 2 |
| 2414 | Female | N |
| 2500 | Male | V |
| 2502 | Female | 9 |
| 2503 | Female | S |
| 2514 | Female | A |
| 2515 | Female | 7 |
| 2538 | Female | Q |
The reflective ID鈥檚 are placed on the collar to allow the animal to be more easily identified on remote sensing cameras or public sightings. However, the numbers/letters do wear off over time.
Management
2020-2021 Management Activities
2021-2022 Management Activities
2022-2023 Management Activities
Wild Population Update/2024 Releases
On December 1, 2023 the Service published the 2023-2024 release plan. The plan discloses efforts undertaken from October 2023 through June 2024 in support of Red Wolf recovery in eastern North Carolina specific to the pairing and release strategies during that time frame. The following summary includes updates on those efforts and updates on the wild population as of September 2024.
Eastern North Carolina Red Wolf Population (ENC RWP)
Releases
In October 2023, an acclimation pen was constructed within the home range of the resident wild adult female Red Wolf (2225F), who birthed the previous two litters in the Milltail area of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (ARNWR). This was done in an attempt to create a new breeding pair after the tragic loss of 2323M (the previous breeding male in the Milltail family group) in September 2023. A male Red Wolf (2191M), born at Wolf Haven International in Tenino, Washington as part of the Red Wolf Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, was then placed in it on October 30, 2023. The pen was constructed in a way to allow for the wild Red Wolves to be able to interact with and get familiar with the male in the pen with the hope that after release he would pair with 2225F.
Soon after his placement in the pen, the Milltail pups began directly interacting with him through the fence and 2225F would come to the area periodically. In December 2023, one of the female yearlings (2414F) from the Milltail family group was captured and placed in the acclimation pen with 2191M. She was placed in the pen not with the intention that the two would pair but to increase the likelihood of him being accepted into the family group after release, both because the Red Wolves in the pen would be more familiar with one another and because it would likely increase the amount of interactions between the family group and the two in the acclimation pen. 2225F visited the pen more after her daughter was inside.
On January 26, 2024, 2191M and 2414F were released from the acclimation pen. The release of 2191M was timed with mating season and he and 2225F soon appeared to become a pair. Close monitoring throughout the winter and early spring raised hopes that this new pairing would be successful, and it was. On April 18, 2024, Red Wolf Recovery Program biologists confirmed the birth of a wild litter of 8 Red Wolf pups. When the pups were about 9 days old, biologists went into the den to quickly examine the pups, microchip them for future identification and cheek swabbed for genetics before leaving the den, allowing 2225F to quickly return to continue caring for the pups.
Since late June 2024, the Milltail litter has not been definitively detected and identified during monitoring with remote sensing cameras, tracking and visual observation. Their
known activity areas were buffered from management activities during that time. Monitoring will continue throughout their home range. No pup mortalities have been documented, however, pups approaching 5 months old are typically moving throughout the family group鈥檚 home range with the adults and being seen on remote sensing cameras.
In November 2023, a wild female Red Wolf (2409F), who had previously been released as part of a family group on Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (PLNWR) in May 2023, and a wild male Red Wolf (2411M) born into the Milltail family group in 2022, were captured separately by Red Wolf Recovery Program biologists and placed in an acclimation pen together on ARNWR to try and create a new breeding pair. They did not have a litter and were subsequently released in June 2024. Both are fitted with orange GPS/VHF collars and will be monitored.
In December 2023, a wild female Red Wolf (2413F) born into the Milltail family group in 2022 was captured by Red Wolf Recovery Program biologists and placed in an acclimation pen on ARNWR with a male (2444M), born in 2022 at the Endangered Wolf Center as part of the Red Wolf SAFE Program, to try and create a new breeding pair. In April 2024, the newly formed pair had a litter of 5 pups in the acclimation pen and they were all released in late May. Based on extensive monitoring using various methods (e.g., visual observations from a far distance, remote cameras, radio telemetry tracking from the ground and air, points from GPS collars via satellites), the family group moved a few miles away from the acclimation pen and settled in, including 2444M appearing to be transitioning well into the wild and as a new father. Tragically, his transition to the wild was cut way too short and he was a vehicle strike mortality on Highway 64 near Buffalo City Road on June 5. Monitoring of 2413F and the pups will continue, and feasible management actions will be taken to assist with survival of the pups, if possible, after the loss of the male.
Based on extensive monitoring, using multiple monitoring methods, there is no indication that the litter born to 2413F and 2444M survived after the mortality of 2444M. Pup survival is always a concern after the mortality of one of the breeding pair, particularly Red Wolves with their first litter, such as was the case with this pair. No carcasses have been found to confirm this.
In February 2024, a wild female Red Wolf (2359F), fostered into a den in 2021, was captured by private trappers and handed over to Red Wolf Recovery Program biologists. To try and create a new breeding pair, she was placed in an acclimation pen on PLNWR with a male (2443M) born in 2022 at the Endangered Wolf Center as part of
Red Wolf SAFE Program. They did not have a litter in the pen. Based on results from previous releases under similar circumstances (e.g., no litter, a male Red Wolf from the SAFE Program with no wild experience and the fact that they were not in the pen together during the bonding period or the full mating period due to the timing of her capture), 2359F was released in June 2024, but 2443M was not and will remain in the pen for now. Attempts will be made in the future to pair him with a wild female Red Wolf and release him if it is a successful pairing.
Wild Population Update
On November 19, 2023, a female pup (2501F) born in the Milltail family group in spring 2023 was captured. She was radio collared with an orange radio collar with orange reflective material and re-released. Unfortunately, on December 22, 2023 she was killed on Highway 264. Necropsy confirmed the mortality was a result of a vehicle strike.
On November 19, 2023 and the following day on November 20, 2023, the two remaining pups (2514F and 2515F) born in the Pungo family group in spring 2023 were captured. They were both collared with orange collars with orange reflective material and released within their family group鈥檚 home range where they have remained with the breeding pair (2361F and 2307M).
| Red Wolf ID | Letter/Number on Collar |
| 2514F | A |
| 2515F | 7 |
In January 2024, four of the Red Wolf pups (2499M, 2500M, 2502F and 2503F) born into the Milltail family group on ARNWR in Spring 2023 were captured, fitted with orange collars with orange reflective material, and re-released. We did not capture the male pup fostered into the family group and have not been able to identify him on remote sensing camera footage for the last couple of months.
| Red Wolf ID | Letter/Number on Collar |
| 2191M | T |
| 2500M | V |
| 2502F | 9 |
| 2503F | 6 |
On February 25, 2024, an adult wild female Red Wolf (2538) was captured on private lands and added to the known population. She is estimated to be 7 years old.
On April 8, 2024, a wild female Red Wolf (2280) was captured after exhibiting uncharacteristic behavior for her, such as being visible close to open farm field roads, acting very lethargic, and appearing to have vision issues. After an initial evaluation at a local vet clinic, she was moved to the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Veterinary Hospital where she was diagnosed with an untreatable cancerous mass on her brain.
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Florida (SVNWR)
There is currently a pair of Red Wolves on St. Vincent NWR, including a male released from the SAFE population in early 2025, but a successful litter was not documented in 2023 this year based on monitoring.
Summary of Releases
| Year | # of Adults Released | # of Subadults Released | # of Pups Released w/Adults1 | # of Pups Fostered | # of Known Pups Born in the Wild | # of Known Mortalities | Population Estimate2 (end of year) | # of Mortalities as a Function of Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 8-C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14% |
| 1988 | 0 | 2-C | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 25% |
| 1989 | 1-C | 6-C | 2-C, 2-I | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 20% |
| 1990 | 2-C | 0 | 6-C | 0 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 19% |
| 1991 | 1-C | 1-C | 5-C | 0 | 13 | 9 | 34 | 26% |
| 1992 | 2-I | 0 | 4-C | 0 | 2 | 1 | 43 | 2% |
| 1993 | 2-C, 2-I | 2-C | 9-C | 0 | 16 | 8 | 66 | 12% |
| 1994 | 3-C, 3-I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 23 | 51 | 45% |
| 1995 | 1-C | 1-S | 0 | 0 | 22 | 12 | 41 | 29% |
| 1996 | 2-I | 3-I | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 50 | 14% |
| 1997 | 1-I | 1-I | 0 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 44 | 20% |
| 1998 | 0 | 1-I | 0 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 66 | 23% |
| 1999 | 1-I | 2-I | 0 | 0 | 44 | 16 | 89 | 18% |
| 2000 | 1-S,1-I | 1-S,2-I | 0 | 0 | 26 | 16 | 96 | 17% |
| 2001 | 1-S | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 22 | 86 | 26% |
| 2002 | 0 | 1-I | 0 | 7-C | 32 | 22 | 81 | 27% |
| 2003 | 0 | 1-I | 0 | 0 | 35 | 15 | 87 | 17% |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-I | 50 | 21 | 94 | 22% |
| 2005 | 0 | 1-I | 0 | 0 | 38 | 19 | 103 | 18% |
| 2006 | 0 | 4-I | 0 | 4-C | 52 | 18 | 110 | 16% |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3-C | 31 | 21 | 94 | 22% |
| 2008 | 0 | 3-I | 0 | 0 | 47 | 21 | 97 | 22% |
| 2009 | 0 | 5-I | 0 | 4-C | 40 | 28 | 94 | 30% |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-C | 43 | 17 | 95 | 18% |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-C | 40 | 21 | 90-110 | 19-23% |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-C | 39 | 20 | 100-120 | 17-20% |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-C | 34 | 15 | 90-110 | 14-17% |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-C | 19 | 17 | 90-110 | 15-19% |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 50-75 | 25-38% |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 25-48 | 23-44% |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 25-35 | 20-28% |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 23-30 | 17-22% |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19-22 | 27-32% |
| 2020 | 0 | 1-I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17-20 | 10-12% |
| 2021 | 2-C,1-I | 2-C,1-I | 0 | 4-C | 0 | 7 | 17-20 | 35-41% |
| 2022 | 7-C | 3-C | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19-21 | 29-32% |
| 2023 | 5-C, 1-I | 1-C | 0 | 1-C | 13 | 11 | 20-23 | 50-55% |
C = Captivity
I = Island Propagation Site
S = Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Adults are categorized as Red Wolves 3 years of age or older. Subadults are Red Wolves that are greater than 6 months old and less than 3 years old. Pups are Red Wolves less than 6 months old.
1Origin of Red Wolves Released or Fostered
2The methodology used to determine the population estimate of the ENC RWP has varied over the course of time based on the size of the population to yield the most accurate estimates possible.
3Information as of 6/26/2023
** Specific information about mortality location is not released as it may provide sensitive species occurrence data. **
Outreach, Education, and Media
Interested in learning how to help Red Wolves? Check out our fact sheet here.
Traveling in eastern North Carolina? Here's how you can help keep Red Wolves safe. Check out our "Welcome to Red Wolf Country" brochure.
Service staff have worked closely with multiple local, regional and national media outlets on articles, news stories, and videos to get the word out about the release of Red Wolves and Red Wolf recovery in general. Outlets include, but are not limited to, Mutual of Omaha始s Wild Kingdom, National Geographic, CBS News Sunday Morning, Coastal Review, and Right of Passage, among others. Have media inquiries? Please reach out to Lanier Clegg at [email protected].
Partnership Coordination Calls
Every quarter, the Service and its partners in Red Wolf recovery meet via a conference call to provide updates on the status of Red Wolf related actions. The purpose of these calls is to:
- provide a forum for regular and effective coordination on current actions and collaborative efforts among all partners in Red Wolf recovery, and
- provide other interested parties and the public with updates on the status of Red Wolf conservation efforts.
Updates the Service provides on these calls can be found below in our Documents section.
Community Involvement
On September 24, 2024, the Service held a virtual informational meeting on the Red Wolf Recovery Program. The presentation from the meeting is posted below, along with a transcript and video recording from the virtual meeting.
On May 9 & 10, 2023, the Service held public information meetings on the Red Wolf Recovery Program. The presentation from the meetings is posted below, along with a transcript and video recording from the virtual meeting.
On October 4 & 5, 2022, the Service held an in-person informational meeting and virtual informational meeting. The presentation from the meetings is posted below, along with a transcript and video recording from the virtual meeting.
On February 1, 2022, the Service held a virtual informational meeting and listening session on the revitalization of Red Wolf recovery efforts as well as the transfer and upcoming releases of nine Red Wolves into the wild in the ENC RWP. The presentation from the meeting is posted below, along with a transcript and video recording from the virtual meeting.
On Dec.10, 2019, the Service held a joint public information session with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regarding the Red Wolf recovery efforts and management of canids on the Albemarle Peninsula. The goal was to inform residents living in and around the 铿乿e-county ENC RWP area in eastern North Carolina (Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties) about ongoing work and plans for canid management. Plans for additional sessions were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prey for the Pack 鈥� Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Prey for the Pack is a habitat improvement program through the Services鈥� Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, in collaboration with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and is available to private landowners interested in and committed to improving wildlife habitats on their property. The program helps provide both technical and 铿乶ancial support to private landowners to help promote and implement habitat improvement projects that bene铿乼 both the landowner and the wildlife that depend on the resource, speci铿乧ally to promote habitat for Red Wolf prey species. To date, the Service has provided $350,000 worth of financial assistance, to date; $60,000 in FY19 and $290,000 in FY22.
In exchange for 铿乶ancial and technical support, landowners will allow for the presence of Red Wolves on their private lands, un-harassed. For more information contact Luke Lolies, Wildlife Biologist/Private Lands Biologist at [email protected] or (252) 256-3676, or Joe Madison, NC Program Manager - Red Wolf Recovery Program at [email protected] or (252) 475-8259.
The Red Wolf Center 鈥� Columbia, North Carolina
The Red Wolf Center located just outside Columbia, North Carolina, is a public education center that houses Red Wolf displays and a live Red Wolf pair in a viewing enclosure. The Red Wolf Center is a collaborative effort between the Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Refuge Association. The Red Wolf Center also offers red wolf educational talks to school and other groups. To learn more about the Red Wolf Center, schedule a tour or a presentation, or facilities hours, contact Katerina Ramos at [email protected].
Red Wolf Hotline
For information, questions, and to report suspected sightings or an injured or dead red wolf, call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-855-4-WOLVES (496-5837) or [email protected].
Recovery Timeline
1967
- Red wolf listed as 鈥渢hreatened with extinction鈥� under the Endangered Species Preservation Act
1969
- Red wolves first maintained in captivity at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington
1973
- Endangered Species Act becomes federal law
- Recovery program established; captive breeding program initiated
1977
- First litter of Red Wolf pups born in breeding program at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
1978
- First successful experimental release, tracking, and recapture of Red Wolves on Bulls Island, South Carolina, solidifies reintroduction techniques
1973-1980
- Over 400 canids captured in wild
1980
- Red wolf declared extinct in the wild
1984
- AZA Species Survival Plan established
1985
- Early documentation of coyotes in eastern NC
1986
- Nonessential experimental population (NEP) in eastern NC established (10(j) rule). This population is now referred to as the Eastern North Carolina Red Wolf Population (ENC RWP).
1987
- First release of Red Wolves in ENC RWP (Alligator River NWR)
1988
- First litter of Red Wolf pups born in the wild at Alligator River NWR
1991
- NEP in Great Smokey Mountains National Park (GSMNP) established (10(j) rule)
1992
- Releases begin at GSMNP
1993
- First Red Wolves born in the wild in GSMNP NEP
1995
- Publication of an amendment to the 10(j) rule governing the ENC RWP to address private landowner concerns about reintroduced Red Wolves
1998
- GSMNP NEP ended due to low pup survival and the inability of Red Wolves to establish home ranges within the Park (e.g., emigration of Red Wolves to lower elevations with greater prey availability)
1999
- Coyotes/hybridization most imminent threat
2000
- Adaptive management plan (AMP) implemented to address Red Wolf/coyote hybridization
2004
- Increase in Red Wolf mortality due to gunshot
2012
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) temporary rule allows night hunting of coyotes with artificial light across state; puts Red Wolves at risk
- Court suspends night hunting of coyote with lights within ENC RWP
2013
- Service recognizes need to improve management of ENC RWP
- NCWRC permanent rule allows coyote hunting on private land day or night, day hunting on public lands without a permit and night hunting with a permit
- NCWRC and Service sign Canid Management Agreement
2014
- Independent evaluation of the ENC RWP conducted by the Wildlife Management Institute
- Court ordered ban on all coyote hunting in ENC RWP (preliminary injunction)
- Preliminary injunction replaced with settlement agreement (between NCWRC and Plaintiffs) that allows hunting of coyotes on private land with a permit and no hunting on public lands (with narrow exception)
2015
- NCWRC issues resolution calling for the ENC RWP to be terminated
- Evaluation of entire recovery program, facilitated by Group Solutions, Inc. Reintroductions of Red Wolf into the wild and AMP voluntarily temporarily suspended while additional science and research into the feasibility of species鈥� recovery is gathered
2016
- Court injunction against take/removal of Red Wolves Service Recommendation Memo 鈥� new path to recovery; recovery of the Red Wolf is possible with significant changes
2017
- Commitment from partners to expand captive facilities
2018
- A Species Status Assessment and 5-year review for the Red Wolf completed
- Red Wolf approved as an AZA SAFE species (Saving Animals From Extinction)
- Red Wolf Center in Columbia, NC reopens through a partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Refuge Association
- Service proposes new 10(j) rule for ENC RWP
- Federal court ruling places permanent injunction against the taking of Red Wolves without demonstrating that the Red Wolf in question is a threat to human safety or the safety of livestock or pets
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute hosts Red Wolf Science Workshop
2019
- National Academy of Sciences (NAS) confirms the Red Wolf is a distinct species
- NAS contracted by the Service to 1) assist in selecting proposals for a study to determine the taxonomy of unidentified wild canids in southern Louisiana, and 2) develop a research strategy to examine evolutionary relationships between ancient and contemporary Red Wolves
- $257,000 Recovery Challenge Grant awarded to Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2) to build new enclosures (I.e., expand Red Wolf captive facilities)
- Reinitiated the Albemarle Peninsula Collaborative Canid Conservation team consisting of NCWRC and Service personnel
- Implementation of AMP resumes
2020
- Quarterly Red Wolf Partnership Coordination Calls begin
- $257,000 Recovery Challenge Grant awarded to C2S2 to build new enclosures for Red Wolves
- Service begins process for updating the Red Wolf Recovery Plan
- Service sued by the Red Wolf Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Southern Environmental Law Center for violations of the Endangered Species Act
2021
- Court orders the Service to draft a plan to release captive Red Wolves into the ENC RWP in consultation with scientists and experts in the field
- Releases from captivity and pup fostering resumes
- $257,000 Recovery Challenge Grant awarded to C2S2 to build new enclosures for Red Wolves
- Service submits a release plan to the court in March, followed by an amended plan in April
- A new Red Wolf Recovery Team is assembled to update the current Red Wolf Recovery Plan
- Service withdraws 2018 proposed new 10(j) rule for ENC RWP
2022
- Draft revised recovery plan available for review and comment - September 28, 2022
2023
- Final revised recovery plan published - September 29, 2023
- 2023-2024 Release Plan published - December 1, 2023
Federal Register Notices
Relevant documents, including 10(j) rules, recovery plan, 5-year review, and the SSA can be found on the ECOS ECOS
Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) serves a variety of reports related to FWS Threatened and Endangered Species.
Learn more about ECOS species profile page (). You can also conduct your own search on the Federal Register website ().
