Red Wolf

Red Wolf. Canis rufus. , General Information: , Red Wolves are smaller and more elusive than their Gray Wolf relatives. Red Wolves are about 4-5 feet long, including their tail, and about 26 inches tall at the shoulder. They can weigh between 50 and 80 pounds. In captivity, Red Wolves can live to be 15 years old, but in the wild, they typically live for 6 or 7 years. Because of their reddish-brown coat color and smaller size, Red Wolves closely resemble Coyotes., Diet , Red Wolves are carnivores and feed primarily on small mammals such as raccoons, rabbits, and other rodents. As a pack, they can take down large prey like White-Tailed Deer., Range and Habitat , Red wolves are historically native to the southeastern United States from Florida to Pennsylvania. Now, wild Red Wolves are only found in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, where they were reintroduced in 1987. Red Wolves are highly adaptable and can live in forests, marshes, swamps, and open agricultural fields., Conservation Status , Critically Endangered , Red Wolves are currently listed as critically endangered. In 2023, there was an estimated 23-25 individuals in the wild. Their biggest threat is humankind. Conservation programs are in place for this species, and all individuals that can be released, get released at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina., Wild Fact! , The hunting of wolves in America predates the founding of the United States! The first documented wolf bounty was placed by a colony in Massachusetts in 1630.