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Red Wolf Basics

Submitted by Mr. Harold's class from Marshfield, Missouri on September 20, 2005

This interview focuses on some basic questions about red wolves.

Questions and Answers

Question #1.
Are the Red Wolves still and endangered species?
Answer:
Yes, they are, but with a bit of a difference than the typical endangered species. Red wolves are listed as “experimental, non-essential� under the Endangered Species Act. This designation allows researchers additional freedom to manage individual animals, but also means that red wolves benefit from less protection than some other animals on the endangered species list.

Question #2.
Are the Red Wolves thriving, or decresing in population on the islands around Alligator River?
Answer:
First, red wolves don’t live on islands at Alligator River; the islands you are thinking of are pre-release captive sites at Bull’s Island and St. Vincent Island. At Alligator River, the red wolves are indeed doing well; there are births on the refuge, but there are also deaths from natural and un-natural causes. Perhaps most importantly, wolf researchers are learning more about the animals every day.

Question #3.
Why did the hunters hunt the Red Wolves? Was it for their fur? etc.
Answer:
Back in the days when red wolves were being actively hunted, it was not for their fur or skin. Rather, they were simply being wiped out because people believed that they threatened their families, their livestock, and so on. Wolves are still being killed today out of fear and ignorance—people simply don’t understand wolf behaviors or habits, and therefore don’t understand how wrong-headed it is to kill wolves.

Question #4.
Are they territorial, do they stick with a pack or are they loners?
Answer:
Wolves are intensely territorial and also intensely pack-oriented. Though there will always be “lone wolves,� they tend to build packs around family units. See FAQ: Red Wolves to learn more about pack behavior in red wolves. Also, run a search on “pack� in the Mexican Wolf section of this website to learn about pack behaviors in other wolves.

Question #5.
Do you think the coyote and the Red Wolf could be close in relation? Because they look so much alike?
Answer:
You are right! Red wolves and coyotes are very similar in appearance. They are similar in other ways as well. In fact, they are so similar that they often inter-breed or hybridize. You can learn more about the red wolf/coyote hybridization problem by reading Red Wolf Hybridization.


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