Red Wolves' 85% Decline Only 20 Remain in North Carolina Wild

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North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge harbors the last remaining wild red wolves, with around two dozen survivors roaming freely across five counties.

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Red wolves, once abundant across southeastern United States, have faced an 85% population decline in the past decade, leaving 245 wolves in 43 captive breeding programs.

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These nocturnal predators, with males weighing 60-80 pounds and females slightly smaller, hunt smaller prey like raccoons and rabbits, consuming roughly five pounds daily.

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Vehicle strikes, aggressive predator control programs, and urban development have decimated the population from hundreds to near extinction.

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The Red Wolf Recovery Area spans 3,700 square miles across Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties, providing vital wetlands and forested territories.

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Species Survival Plan manages captive breeding programs across 43 locations, focusing on biological diversity through strategic reintroduction.

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Local partnerships and the Red Wolf Recovery Program work to reduce human-wildlife conflicts while protecting these wolves even on private lands.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a dedicated Red Wolf Hotline at 1-855-4WOLVES for reporting sightings.

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Red wolves typically survive seven years in the wild but can live up to 15 years under controlled environments like the North Carolina Zoo.

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The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge's Red Wolf Center prepares captive wolves for wild reintroduction through acclimation pens.

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