American

Red Wolves

Extinct in the wild by the 1970s, the recovery of this all-American underdog is thanks in part to the Endangered Wolf Center and our partners.

Help Save the World’s Most Endangered Wolf – the American Red Wolf

LEFT IN THE WILD

CURRENTLY IN OUR CARE

Red wolf pups born here

Meet Our American Red Wolves

With about 20 individuals left in the wild, the American red wolf is the rarest large carnivore in the United States, and the most critically endangered wolf in the entire world.

Ried & Aster's Pack

With three rambunctious boys, Aster and Ried are patient parents and quite the red wolf power couple.

Read their story

Wild About American Red Wolves

An All-American Wolf

“American red wolves are the only large carnivore species solely native to the USA. Just like the bald eagle, the American red wolf is a national treasure we must save.”
— Sarah Holaday, Director of Animal Care and Conservation

Where do American red wolves live?

Historically, American red wolves were found throughout the southeastern United States, from southern Missouri south to Texas, across the Gulf Coast states and up to the New England states.

Today there is only a small population of red wolves left in the wild and they can only be found on the coast of North Carolina.

Are American red wolves endangered?

Yes. American red wolves are critically endangered and the most endangered wolf in the world due to poaching, trapping and habitat loss.

According to the USFWS, there are less than 20 American red wolves living in the wild in North Carolina. In addition to these, about 250 are in managed breeding programs like ours.

Do American red wolves live in packs?

American red wolves have an average family size of 8-10 individuals, with litters of around five pups. A dominant male and female lead the family pack, typically the mother or father.

Can red wolves be saved?

Yes, by working together, we can save this species. The red wolf reintroduction effort was the first ever reintroduction of a large carnivore in human history. The creative and innovative scientific approach to this program not only helped save the American red wolf but set the foundation for other reintroduction efforts like the gray wolf in Yellowstone, the Mexican wolf in the southwest United States as well other endangered species recovery efforts.

What do red wolves eat?

Packs generally hunt white tail deer but also hunt other prey, including raccoons, feral hogs and even small rodents. In turn, this greatly benefits ground-nesting birds, like quail and turkey, by reducing their predator populations. Like all natural predators, ecosystems are healthier and more in balance with their presence.

Adopt a Red Wolf Pack

American red wolves are the only large carnivore species solely native to the USA, truly a national treasure. Your symbolic adoption of our American red wolf pack includes a special adoption package.

Adopt