Red Wolf
America's most endangered wolf — and a comeback story in progress
No photo available for Red Wolf
Population
Approximately 20 wild individuals
Location
Eastern North Carolina, USA
Overview
The red wolf is the world's most endangered wolf and one of the most endangered canids on Earth. Once ranging across the entire southeastern United States, it was declared extinct in the wild in 1980. A captive breeding program saved the species, and reintroduction in North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987 marked the first time a species declared extinct in the wild was successfully returned to its native habitat.
Why they're at risk
- !
Gunshot remains the leading cause of death for wild red wolves — many are mistakenly or deliberately shot by landowners.
- !
Hybridization with coyotes, which expanded into the red wolf's range during its absence, dilutes the gene pool.
- !
Loss of suitable habitat and fragmented landscapes limit population expansion.
- !
A 2012 policy change reduced protections on private land, increasing mortality rates.
Reasons for hope
- ✓
The captive population of roughly 240 red wolves in facilities across the US ensures the species will survive even if the wild population fails.
- ✓
The US Fish & Wildlife Service's recovery plan includes expanding the wild population and establishing additional wild sites.
- ✓
Red Wolf Recovery Program staff actively monitor wild wolves with GPS collars, intervening to prevent hybridization.
- ✓
Community outreach in North Carolina has shifted attitudes — many local landowners now actively support their resident wolves.