Canis rufus
Description
Named for their red-tinged fur, red wolves are smaller than gray wolves, their better-known cousins. Males are typically larger than females and can weigh up to
88 pounds.
Range
Red wolves once roamed throughout the eastern United States, but they now inhabit a small portion of their former range. Most red wolves can be found in zoos, but a
small group has been introduced to North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Status
Critically endangered, red wolves were nearly driven to extinction by overhunting. Ranchers and farmers often targeted the species, believing it to be a threat to
livestock, but scientists have since shown that the wolves primarily pursue non-domestic prey. Lincoln Park Zoo is working with the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan to
conserve the species.
Habitat
This canine species primarily occupies wetlands, forests and mountainous areas.
Niche
Red wolves prey on a range of species, including raccoons, rabbits, deer, and rodents and small mammals.
Life History
Red wolf packs typically consist of a breeding pair and their previous year's offspring, although larger groups have been observed. Each pack occupies a distinct
territory, with the wolves using scents, urine and feces to mark boundaries. Breeding is restricted to the alpha male and alpha female of each group. Females rear
their young in concealed dens dug into tree hollows or the banks of streams. An average litter ranges from three to six pups, although as many as 12 can be born.