![]() Written By: Aimee Turcotte Years ago, Red Wolves (Canis rufus) were thriving in the bottomland forests, dense mountains, coastal prairies, swamps, and marshes of the southeastern United States [1.]. Unfortunately, their historic range has decreased due to habitat loss and is now limited to a designated area in northeastern North Carolina’s Albemarle Peninsula. Within the lands of the Albemarle Peninsula, Red Wolves occasionally interact with Coyotes, resulting in competing for resources or mating when a Red Wolf cannot find a mate of their species. The hybridization of Red Wolves and Coyotes has resulted in the loss of genetic diversity between these species. If there are more Coyote and Red Wolf hybrids, the population of Red Wolves may continue to decrease, resulting in this critically endangered species being closer to extinction. A Red Wolf pack typically includes a breeding pair and their young. There can be 5 to 8 individuals in one pack. A breeding pair of Red Wolves usually mate in February and tend to remain monogamous, only mating with each other. Once pups are born in April or May, they are blind and deaf until about 10 to 14 days after birth. When the young reach 1 to 3 years old, they leave the pack. Red Wolves live approximately 7 years on average in the wild and 15 years in human care. Did you know that Red Wolves are apex predators? These carnivores are at the top of the food chain, hunting alone or in packs. Red Wolves pursue small mammals such as mice, rabbits, and raccoons when alone. However, when Red Wolves are in a group, these canids can gather to chase down larger animals like White-Tailed Deer and cattle. Red Wolves may forage for berries, insects, and vegetation if there is a lack of prey. Shockingly, Red Wolves can eat approximately five pounds of food daily.
Many people perceive Red Wolves as a threat to human safety. However, Red Wolves are rarely a danger to humans because these animals are afraid of humans and will avoid human interaction unless threatened. Humans are more of a threat to Red Wolves due to human-caused mortality of these canids through hunting, vehicle collisions, and habitat destruction. Thankfully, through the conservation efforts of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan (SSP), the population of Red Wolves may be restored by establishing breeding programs for Red Wolves in zoos. As Red Wolves are born in zoos, they are occasionally reintroduced into the wild to assist with the growth of the Red Wolf population in the wild. There are many types of wolves throughout the world. One wolf species closely related to the Red Wolves is the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Both canid groups are a part of the Canis genus, but Red Wolves and Gray Wolves have similarities and differences. Red Wolves are smaller than Gray Wolves, being on average 4 feet long, 26 inches tall, and 45 to 85 pounds. Gray Wolves generally weigh 70 to 150 pounds. Additionally, Gray Wolves are stockier than Red Wolves who have a slender and elongated body structure. The physique of Gray Wolves allows them to move generally faster and to have more agility than Red Wolves. Furthermore, Gray Wolves are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing them with a wider historical range than Red Wolves [1.]. Thank you for reading this blog! If you have a favorite fun fact about Red Wolves, feel free to put your fun fact in the comment section! https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/redwolf.html#:~:text=Red%20Wolf.%20(Canis%20rufus)%20Physical%20Description:%20Red%20Wolves%20are
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2024
|