Red Wolf – Canis rufus

Description

The name of the Red Wolf stems from the fact that they can have a reddish coat on them. It is often a cinnamon shade of red. However, not all of them have this coloring as many of them are brownish. This is why they are often mistaken for other types of wolves as many people assume they all have red coloring to them.

Another distinct feature is that they have white around the muzzle area. They also have very large ears.

Distribution

In the past the Red Wolves have been known to live around Texas and Louisiana. Today though there are very few of them remaining in those regions. Thanks to reintroduction projects by professionals they are now also living in South Carolina and North Carolina. They do seem to be doing quite well in those areas but it is going to take time to see how they do in the long term scheme of things.

Behavior

The Red Wolf is very social by nature so they will form packs that have several levels of hierarchy within it. These packs can be as small as only two members or have a few more. They are very territorial as well so they will heavily mark their area with their scent to keep other wolf packs from invading their space.

Diet /Feeding

It is believed that the Red Wolf is often a lone hunter. They generally don’t have the collaborated efforts of several pack members involved with a kill. As a result they tend to stick with smaller types of prey. Some that they survive on include mice, rates, rabbits, raccoons, and muskrats. When they do work as a team though they are able to successfully take down deer and have been known to attack cattle as well in certain areas.

Reproduction

The Red Wolf is considered to be mature between 22 and 24 months of age. Typically it is only the lead male and female of a pack that will reproduce. This activity takes place from January to March. The young cubs are born a couple of months later. A mother can has from three pups to twelve.

The young are born in a den but instead of later emerging with them publicly she will continue to move them around to other dens for several months. This helps to prevent the scent from becoming too strong and attracting other wolf packs that may also be predators of the young.

Before they are a couple of years old they will often leave the pack they were born into. Females have an easier time being accepted into another pack out there. The males often have to find their own territory and look for a single female that they can start a pack with.

Conservation

The Red Wolf is currently listed as critically endangered so there are plenty of efforts in place to try to save them. Today there are many habitat locations that have been declared safety zones for them. However, the fact that they have killed cattle and some pets means that not everyone around these areas are happy with them.

One problem with those that have been reintroduced in North Carolina and South Carolina is that they have had large numbers infected with heart worm. Efforts have been in place to help reduce this by offering medications and humans doing what they can to monitor the situation without putting themselves into danger.