From Fourteen: A Beginning
By David A. Rabon, Jr.
Red wolf left the mountains, drifting west and south, watched itself vanish from a vanishing world until there was almost nowhere to howl and the last vivid forms of its pure spirit prepared themselves to leave this earth.
Just before red wolf leapt into nonexistence, it was trapped out of the wild, taken in cages from the thickets of coastal southeast Texas where it had been driven by history, left to prowl at night, scavenging mesquite beans and cactus fruits.
For generations there was no far traveling. The unseen walls of lost habitat became the chain link of breeding pens. The great skills went unused. Sharp sight, keen hearing, shape-changing stealth. Great endurance, silent speed over forest litter, tolerance of the deepest cold. Generations without a hunt. Generations without a proper den. The young knew nothing of the world. Had no wildness in their hearts, no weather in their fur. After three generations, all the old ones were dead and there was not a wild red wolf in the world. Only shadows of wolves. Pale flames of red wolf spirit licked the cages.
Then the red wolf was returned to the old places, freed.
Christopher Camuto—Another Country: Journeying Toward the Cherokee Mountains
Have you ever heard of Mr. and Mrs. Sabine from Jefferson County, Texas? How about Ms. Wessie, also from Texas? Or John from Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana? Maybe you would recognize them by their Studbook numbers—6, 12, 13 and 26. Whether known by name or number, they are red wolves. But not just any red wolves. These are the names of a few individuals that made up the founding population of red wolves—the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of all red wolves known to exist today.
After the bleak future of the red wolf was revealed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to make every effort to save the species. This consisted of capturing as many red wolves from the wild as possible and placing them in a captive breeding program with the hope of one day releasing the species back into the wild. This daunting task began in the early 1970s. More that 400 canids (Canis is the genus that includes wolves, coyotes and dogs) were trapped and evaluated. Only a small fraction of the animals caught met the standards developed to define the red wolf. These standards included minimal morphological measurements such as shoulder height, total length, hind foot length and skull features that distinguish the red wolf from coyotes, feral dogs and wolf-coyote hybrids. From the more than 400 canids trapped, just 43 animals met the minimal standards. Those animals were placed in a breeding program at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. Their final identification as red wolves would be based on the resulting offspring from breeding studies. So began the captive breeding program.
By 1980, the red wolf was declared extinct in the wild. The fate of the species now depended on the successful reproduction of those individuals that met the minimal standards. Some, like Buddy, Margie, Judy and John, were known only by first name. Others were given fictitious surnames, like Ms. Wessie, Mrs. McBride and Mr. and Mrs. Sabine. A few had descriptive names such as Happy Face and Gulf Oil Split Lip, and others were simply named after the place they were trapped, like Fortenberry Female and Pines Inholding Male, Crain Female and Sabine Ranch Male. By any name, these animals represented the last hope for the survival of the red wolf.
Unfortunately, most animals in the breeding program produced offspring that left their status as pure red wolves improbable. At least four animals never reproduced, so their verification as red wolves could not be made. Margie, Judy, Buddy and nameless others were removed from the captive breeding program. The future of the red wolf now relied on just 14 animals that reproduced and were verified as pure red wolves.
Over the years the breeding program has had its share of ups and downs. Two wolves—Crain Female and Pines Inholding Male—are no longer represented with living descendants in the current population. This has reduced the genetic diversity in the existing population of red wolves to only 12 founding animals. But applications in reproductive technology, intensive management, persistence and a little luck have assisted in the conservation of the red wolf. And, in 1987, the red wolf was reintroduced into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Once again the red wolf was free in the wild.
Today, due in part to an aggressive Adaptive Management Program to prevent hybridization with coyotes, the red wolf is reproducing and surviving. More than 150 wolves live in captive breeding facilities throughout the United States, and more than 100 wolves, living in 20 packs or pairs, inhabit the countryside of northeastern North Carolina. This was all made possible by the tireless efforts of many dedicated professionals and the last 14 red wolves known to exist.
The next time you see a red wolf in a zoo or hear a red wolf howl, or if you’re lucky enough to see a wolf in the wild, think about John and Ms. Wessie. Take a moment to consider Mr. and Mrs. Sabine, and Happy Face and Mrs. McBride, Louisiana Radio Male and Fortenberry Female. Take a moment to think about the contribution 14 red wolves made to the future of the species. And think about the contribution you can make. [top]
David R. Rabon, Jr. is an endangered species biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a PhD student at North Carolina State University where he is studying social and reproductive behaviors of red wolves.
Red Wolves Face New Threat
By Nina Fascione
The red wolf has faced innumerable challenges over the years. Nearly eliminated in the wild by the mid-1980s, red wolf restoration blazed a trail for Endangered Species Act recovery programs as the first reintroduction of a species that was extinct in the wild. Despite numerous biological and political setbacks, the red wolf program has succeeded over the years. But red wolves are facing a new threat today.
Despite concerns expressed by the Red Wolf Coalition, other conservation organizations, the governor of North Carolina, several county governments and many local residents, the Navy plans to develop a jet fighter landing field next to Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County, North Carolina, right in red wolf territory. According to a General Accounting Office report, military overflights represent one of the most harmful activities affecting wildlife refuges. Noise pollution and habitat disruption from the Super Hornet Outlying Landing Field (OLF), which is intended to serve 32,000 training flights per year, will seriously impact endangered red wolves and migratory birds in the area. The OLF could hinder the entire reintroduction program and threaten the approximately 100 red wolves residing in the area. Several groups have begun the litigation process to protect the region’s wildlife. The Red Wolf Coalition will continue to monitor this situation and to let our members know if you can take action steps to help. [top]
Nina Fascione is the Vice-President of Species Conservation at Defenders of Wildlife.
Thanks to the Sierra Club!
An article about the Red Wolf Coalition and the Red Wolf Recovery Program was published in February 2004 in the Sierra Club’s newsletter The Sylvanian. This newsletter goes out to over 27,000 members and others. Our heartfelt thanks to Monica Willett and to the Sierra Club for their support in showcasing the red wolf and the Red Wolf Coalition! [top]
Outreach Coordinator
Good news for the Red Wolf Recovery Program and for the Red Wolf Coalition! Sarah Krueger, who has worked as an intern at U.S. Fish and Wildlife for the Recovery Program, will stay on as Outreach Coordinator for at least 3 months. This is great news! Sarah is doing a first-rate job, and we hope this contract will be extended. Congratulations, Sarah! [top]
Executive Director News
Aubrey Remige, Executive Director of the Red Wolf Coalition, has left her position. She has devoted her life and love to red wolves, and we are thankful that she will continue to support red wolves. [top]
Benefit Concert
WHEN: Friday, June 18, 2004
WHERE: The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, DC
WHAT: Benefit concert, reception and silent auction
World-renowned pianist Helene Grimaud will give a benefit performance for the Red Wolf Coalition. Mark your calendars! For an invitation or information, or if you could donate an item to the silent auction, email board member Neil Hutt at qhshades@aol.com. [top]
Red Wolf Coalition Donates Fencing Material
Although Hurricane Isabel had no significant impact on the wild population of red wolves, the Sandy Ridge Captive Breeding Facility is still recovering from the destructive effects of the storm. Pens that received minor damage have mostly been repaired. Of the eight pens that were severely damaged, three have been fixed and are usable. The new perimeter fence was recently completed. Now that the fence is erect, the fencing materials donated by the Red Wolf Coalition will be shipped to the site and stored inside the compound. These materials will be used to repair the five remaining damaged pens. The USFWS Red Wolf Recovery Program extends gratitude to the Coalition for helping restore this important facility. [top]
Walker Foundation Makes Ecotourism Study Possible
The Walker Foundation has awarded Defenders of Wildlife a $10,000 grant to conduct an ecotourism study based on red wolves. Wild animals and wild lands benefit when local people have an economic incentive in conserving both plant and animal species and the habitats on which they depend. This generous grant will help the Red Wolf Coalition and Defenders explore the potential for ecotourism in beautiful northeastern North Carolina. We are deeply grateful to the Walker Foundation for its support. [top]
Members and Friends: You Rock!
Almost $6000 has come in to the Red Wolf Coalition in response to the special appeal. The generosity of the Coalition members and friends of red wolves is heartening and encouraging. The money continues to come in. If you have not already sent a donation, please consider doing so. Any amount, large or small, will help us in our work to protect red wolves and to educate the public about these beautiful and endangered predators. [top]
Howlations: Thanks to...
Claxton Elementary School—$1200 donation to the general fund
Rhode Island Zoological Park—$860 donation for Hurricane Isabel relief [top]
Red Wolf Quarterly Report—October-December 2003
Number of collared wolves—71
Number of collared hybrids/sterile hybrids—13 (includes coyotes)
Changes in Wild Wolf Population
- Births—41 confirmed for 2003
- Deaths—2: one by gunshot, one suspected foul play (both from same pack in Zone 3)
- First-time captures—adults/pups—14
- Releases from captivity—0
- Management removals (problem animals)—0
- Fate unknown/disappearance—4
- Number of wolf packs and pairs—19 known or suspected:
- 8 in Zone 1
- 6 in Zone 2
- 5 in Zone 3
Dispersal/Displacement/Wide-Ranging Movements
At least 8 yearlings have dispersed, all males except for one. The female is the one who had to have a front leg amputated last quarter. She has been moving through Zone 2 and was recently recaptured and found in good health. She may be consorting with a recently-displaced male. Of the males, one has displaced a breeding male, and 3 others may be in a position to do the same. This includes 2 males that were fostered into existing litters in 2002, one from the NC Zoo and one from Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
2003 Howlings had a total of 1181 attendees in spite of several cancellations due to bad weather and hurricane damage! [top]
Join The Red Wolf Coalition!
Click here to learn how to join and support the Red Wolf Coalition. [top]
