Red Wolves
The red wolf once roamed freely from New York to Texas, yet today it is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Currently, an estimated 20 surviving individuals exist in the wild.
Why We Need Red Wolves
Red wolves play a vital role in regulating populations of deer, keeping them from over-browsing vegetation and farmland. Historically, red wolves also likely helped control raccoons and opossums, preventing these smaller predators from overpopulating to the point of endangering native songbirds. Coyotes—even those having some wolf genes—do not appear to be filling the red wolf’s ecological niche.
History
Our Work
In 2020, we launched a project in the red wolf recovery area to determine if there is a relationship between the presence of the wolves and the local abundance of bobwhite quail. Quail are an economically and culturally important game bird species across the southeastern U.S. Populations in the region are declining due to habitat loss and the overabundance of mid-level predator mammals.
This work is made possible by generous grants from the WildAid Canada Society, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and other private donors.
Take Action
Ask us a question
or learn more about Wildlands Network’s work to protect red wolves by emailing redwolves@wildlandsnetwork.org.
Read up
(and spread the knowledge!) on common misconceptions and facts about red wolves and efforts to recover the species.
Show others
the diversity of wildlife in the Red Wolf Recovery Area by sharing photos from our camera trap project.
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this critical research with a donation, or join our monthly giving circle, Sustain the Wild.