About
The Red Wolf is a critically endangered canid native to the southwestern United States and one of the world’s rarest wild canids. Its population declined dramatically due to habitat loss, hunting, persecution, and hybridization with coyotes. This species was declared extinct in the wild in 1980 before conservationists began reproducing captive-bred wolves. Today, only a small population remains in the wild, making continued conservation and habitat protections essential.
As a predator, the Red Wolf helps regulate populations of prey such as raccoons, rodents, and other small mammals, preventing overpopulation and helping maintain a healthy balance within its ecosystem. Its presence can also influence the behavior and movement of prey species, which can have effects throughout the food web.
Protecting the Red Wolf also means protecting the forests, wetlands, and coastal habitats that provide shelter and food for countless other species across the southwestern United States.