Red Wolves
The red wolf historically roamed as a top predator throughout the southeastern United States but today is one of the most endangered animals in the world. In 1980, the red wolf was officially declared extinct in the wild, while only a small number of red wolves remained in captivity. Fourteen (14) of these wolves were selected as founders of a captive breeding population. Now approximately 40 cooperating facilities across North America, including St. Vincent NWR participate in the national breeding program.
St. Vincent Island (SVI), part of the refuge, is fortunate enough to have the capacity and features to allow a free-roaming “semi-wild experience” for this endangered species. Here a red wolf pair has the opportunity to breed and raise pups without significant human interference in a natural habitat. The end goal of the St. Vincent Island Propagation Program is to help diversify the gene pool and return the red wolves back to their native range.
St Vincent NWR was first approved as a red wolf island propagation site in the fall of 1989 and has since been home to 23 unique adults with 28 pups born on location. Adults that are sent off the island for any number of reasons such as age or health concerns have gone to places such as The Tallahassee History and Natural Sciences Museum, the Wolf Conservation Center of New York, and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium/Graham, WA red wolf facility. Likewise adult red wolves have been sent to the refuge from all over the United States. Our 23rd red wolf, female 2050 arrived from Jackson Zoological Gardens in Mississippi in the Fall of 2015.
Red wolves are essential in restoring natural ecosystems where they once lived. Predators such as the red wolves help maintain the balance and health of ecosystems by controlling overpopulations of prey species and removing unhealthy animals.
St.Vincent NWR boasts an amazing history and support of this beautiful endangered species. For more information on the Red Wolf Recovery Program, there are a multitude of websites you can visit including:
- Nat Geo Short Film
- National Geographic Article on red wolf conservation
- National Geographic Article on how to save the red wolf
- Wolf Conservation Center article about North Carolina red wolf recovery program
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife red wolf information
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Red Wolf Recovery Program
- Red Wolf Recovery Program Facebook page
- Return of the Red Wolf blog page
- X: @redwolfrecovery
- The Secret World of Red Wolves, by T. Delene Beeland