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Introduction to Red Wolves of Alligator River

The red wolf (Canis rufus) suffered huge population and habitat losses throughout the 20th century, and was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1967. The species continued to decline after that, resulting in a 1973 decision to remove them from the wild and place them in captivity for breeding purposes. By 1980, there were no red wolves in the wild.

In 1987, red wolves were reintroduced to the wild at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. This reintroduction marked the first attempt to reintroduce a carnivore declared extinct in the wild to a portion of its former range. Today, a free-ranging population of red wolves inhabits about one and one-half million acres of federal, private and state lands in northeastern North Carolina.


Red Wolf Recovery Quarterly Report - December 2009 
( About The Project )
This article summarizes data provided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in its Red Wolf Recovery Program Quarterly Report. Important information regarding pack status, overall population figures, mortality, captive management and agency partnerships is included. Reports from previous quarters can also be downloaded from the right-hand media column.
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Red Wolves on "The ZooFilez" 
( About The Project )
Several episodes of The ZooFilez, the North Carolina Zoological Park's award-winning, syndicated television series, have focused on the red wolf recovery program. These videos are now available for download on Field Trip Earth.
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Just the Facts - Red Wolves 
( About The Species )
Learn about red wolves in this article written for emerging readers.
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