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Current Status:

Overall, the red wolf population stands at about 196 individuals, which includes captive animals. In North Carolina, the wild population at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge contains approximately 32 animals. The red wolf continues to face threats resulting from misperceptions about wolves. Certain attitudes could hinder further reintroductions and result in the unnecessary taking of wolves.

Achievements:

Additional wolf releases and wild reproduction at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge have increased the wild population. The first second-generation young were produced in the wild in 1991. The refuge also supports the second largest red wolf captive breeding program, which consists of 18 animals. Meetings were held with the County Board of Commissioners in Dare, Tyrrell, Washington, Hyde, and Beaufort Counties, the areas designated for additional wolf reintroduction as a nonessential experimental population. Eight public meetings were also held. At these meetings, the results of the first 5 years of the wolf reintroduction project were presented as well as a proposal to expand the project westward by releasing one to two family groups at the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in 1993 as part of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge experimental population. Another reintroduction effort was launched at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee in 1991. This population stands at nine animals. There are also three island propagation projects at Bulls Island, South Carolina, St. Vincent Island, Florida, and Horn Island, Mississippi, consisting of four adult wolves. About 156 wolves are located in 30 captive breeding facilities across the Nation, which include the island propagation projects. The first artificial insemination has been achieved.

Current Recovery Needs:

An expansion of the Alligator River population westward would increase the amount of habitat available for dispersing animals and help increase the population to a level less likely to be eliminated by catastrophic events. The current reintroduced population will continue to receive close monitoring, and problem animals will be dealt with immediately.

Partnerships

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Agency: This State agency worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service on the Alligator River reintroduction in 1987. The Service will request this agency's approval to expand the project westward to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

North Carolina Life and Science Museum: This facility, located in Durham, recently entered the captive breeding program and houses an adult pair of red wolves.

Western North Carolina Nature Center: This facility, located in Asheville, became a captive breeding cooperator in 1992 and has an adult pair of red wolves.

Recovery Plan Status:

Original plan approved 7/12/82; revised 10/26/90.