Red Wolves, once nearly extinct in the wild, may soon roam the mountains of North Carolina again as federal efforts to restore the critically endangered species ramp up.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is intensifying its Red Wolf Recovery Program, aiming to reintroduce the elusive animals to their historic mountain habitat.
Known as “America’s Wolf”, Red Wolves average 50–60 pounds—smaller than Gray Wolves but larger than coyotes. Though they once roamed from Texas to Pennsylvania, by 1980, the last wild Red Wolf had vanished. The species was listed as endangered in 1967, sparking a decades-long federal recovery effort.
An initial reintroduction attempt released several wolves into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rising coyote populations and competition for food, along with occasional hybridization, stymied the wolves’ return. Many Red Wolves also left the park’s boundaries, leading to conflicts with nearby residents and several deaths.
Today, approximately 18–20 Red Wolves live in the wild, mostly in eastern North Carolina. An additional 257 Red Wolves live in managed care facilities across the U.S., serving as a vital population for breeding and potential reintroduction.
As conservationists prepare for new efforts in Western North Carolina, visitors are urged to stay alert but not alarmed. Though sightings remain rare, officials hope that increased monitoring and careful reintroduction will gradually restore the Red Wolf to its native range in the North Carolina mountains.
