The Virginia Living Museum participates in the federal program to reintroduce red wolves into the wild. As recently as the 17th century, red wolves ranged throughout the southeast United States. Today they are the most endangered mammal in North America. The Museum is the closest facility to Alligator River, the only place in the country where red wolves currently live in the wild.
RED WOLF HISTORY AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
The red wolf is a critically endangered mammal-one of the most endangered mammals in the world. There are over 200 in human care, but only 20 or so left in the wild. The red wolf was listed as endangered in 1967. In 1977, the first litter of red wolves was born in a captive breeding program, the first of its kind for a large carnivore, and a model for future recovery programs for other species. In 1987, experimental releases began of these captive born wolves in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. The program became quite successful, reaching a high of approximately 125 wolves on the refuge. They were breeding in the wild again and it was hoped they were getting close to being self-sustaining. The hallmark of the program was cross-fostering. Cross-fostering involves taking captive born wolf pups with their eyes closed and placing them with a wild mother with the same age pups. She accepts these pups as her own, raising them to be self-sufficient. When the recovery program is active and healthy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers are aware of wild dens are in the wild and can make the necessary recommendations for fostering. When our pups were born, no mother with pups of the same age could be located.
Unfortunately, the situation for the red wolf in the wild has become dire. Large numbers of coyotes have moved into the wolf recovery area, and some interbreeding has occurred. Legal conflicts restricting coyote hunting to prevent wolf kills due to mistaken identity has led to misunderstandings and hard feelings in red wolf country. All of this has led to a fairly rapid decline in wild wolf numbers. The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other committed wildlife advocates are working hard to come to a resolution to reinstate the release of red wolves in the wild. One possible solution is to find additional release sites. The breeding program is still active in zoos (known as the Species Survival Plan), as an assurance for the time when the fostering of pups can continue to support a healthy population of wild red wolves.
The red wolf is a beautiful animal that once flourished throughout the southeastern United States. This species fills an important niche in the ecosystem. Deer populations have been documented to be healthier where they co-exist, and they help to control the populations of meso-predators, such as raccoons. It is the only large carnivore with its range completely within the United States.
HISTORY OF THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PROGRAM
The Virginia Living Museum’s red wolves are part of the Federal Species Survival Program (SSP) which oversees the population’s management of select species within American Zoo Association member institutions.
Historically, red wolves ranged all over the southeastern United States. In 1973, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched a captive breeding program to begin restoring the red wolf population and reintroducing the animals into the wild. The VLM has been part of the program since 2002. Today, about 50 red wolves roam their native habitats in eastern North Carolina. The Virginia Living Museum is one of 38 zoos, nature centers, and museums that participate in the federal captive breeding program. The mission is to help the red wolves increase their numbers through research, captive breeding, and reintroduction of the species into the wild.
