Rare Wild Red Wolf in California Trail Camera is One of 17 Adults Left

A wild red wolf was filmed by a trail camera in California. This adult wolf is one of the only 17 individuals left in the wild.

In the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina, a rare red wolf was discovered. One of the carnivores that are most in danger of extinction is the wolf.

People have been killing them for generations, according to Will Harlan, North Carolina's Center for Biological Diversity director for the southeast region. Throughout the 20th century, extermination campaigns were directed at them until they were declared extinct in the wild by 1980.

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, red wolves were among the first species to be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1967. Eight or four pairs of red wolves were set free to roam in 1987 in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

According to Harlan, the US Fish and Wildlife Service successfully managed a reintroduction program in the eastern areas of North Carolina, and by 2010, 150 red wolves were living there. Fortunately, both the program and the wolves are beginning to recover after a brief breakdown.

Threats to Red Wolf Survival

The red wolf is also at risk from human interactions. In addition, climate change is a major danger because their entire habitat on the Albemarle Peninsula is only three feet above sea level. Although they are naturally timid and unlikely to confront people, habitat fragmentation and further development increase the likelihood of conflict arising between the two species. While some of these encounters may be the result of auto collisions, others may be more malicious.

There have been a lot of red wolf killings in recent years. Six red wolves were discovered and shot in less than 30 days in late 2013, and the attacks still go on. Attacks that continue outside of hunting season and the tampered radio tracking collars point to evidence of tampering and criminal activity. The effects of these attacks are significant in a population of fewer than 100 individuals, The National Wildlife Federation reports.

Red Wolves

In the past, a region encompassing southeast Texas and central Pennsylvania was home to red wolves. Only 14 to 17 adults are thought to still be in the wild as of today, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service, and they are only to be found in the five counties of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrell, Washington, and Dare on the Albemarle Peninsula of North Carolina, which also contains the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

The Fish and Wildlife Service uses radio telemetry and GPS collars to monitor their population. Mexican gray wolves and red wolves are two separate but related species, both of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Also Read: Mexican Gray Wolf Population on a Steady Rise to Recovery, Diversity Woes Worry Experts

Balancing the Ecosystem

Reintroducing red wolves is crucial because their extinction can upset the ecosystem's delicate balance.

According to Harland, as apex predators, they manage rodent, deer, raccoon, and opossum populations. They help safeguard endangered species of birds and turtles while reducing crop damage from rodents, deer, and raccoons. Red wolves also manage populations of the invasive nutria, which wreak havoc on regional ecosystems and economies. Additionally, they hold their ground against the Eastern coyote migration, Newsweek reports.