Endangered Animals: The Red Wolf

Characteristics

• Red wolves are one of four wolf species on earth, getting their name from the reddish fur that colors their ears, legs and neck. Adults grow to be about 4 feet long and weigh from 50 to 80 pounds. Their diet consists of rabbits, deer, raccoons and small rodents. The wolves typically live up to seven years in the wild, but can survive up to 15 years in captivity. Red wolves are nocturnal and do most of their hunting at night in small packs.

Habitat

• According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as of 2011, more than 100 red wolves are estimated to be living across 1.7 million acres of forested land throughout northeastern North Carolina. This is the world's only known population of red wolves. Historically, they could be found throughout the southern U.S., from Florida to as far west as Texas.

Recovery

• Hundreds more red wolves live in dozens of captive breeding facilities throughout the U.S. so that the species' population can continue to be rejuvenated. These breeding facilities helped save the species when it was on the brink of extinction in the 1980s and continue those efforts today. Many of these sites are tourist-friendly and allow people to see and learn more about the animals.

Threats to Survival

• Red wolves nearly became extinct because humans were aggressively hunting them and destroying their habitats. While the species is beginning to make a slow comeback, other threats can impact their survival, like climate change. If global conditions were to change, even in small ways, it could affect the habitat of the 100 or so wild red wolves in North Carolina. Another threat to the species' survival is the possibility that red wolves are interbreeding with coyotes.