Interbreeding (hybridization) between red wolves and 

coyotes is a threat to the survival of the highly endangered 

red wolf. In 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

partnered with a variety of scientific experts to conduct 

research and design an Adaptive Management Plan to 

better understand the interbreeding phenomenon. Original 

estimates showed that if interbreeding was not controlled, 

the red wolf would be unrecognizable as a separate 

species within as few as 3-6 generations (12 to 14 years). 

Today, the Red Wolf Recovery Program 

field team is demonstrating that 

interbreeding can be managed 

successfully. By early 2001, the field 

team has been successful in creating a 

coyote and hybrid free zone, known as 

Zone 1 of the red wolf experimental 

population area. Any known hybrids in 

Zone 2 are sterile and the frequency of 

hybrid occurrence in Zone 3 is reduced.

These sterile animals hold territorial 

space until a wolf can take it’s place. 

Only three hybrid litters were found 

in 2001, and these litters were 

located on the western edge of Zone 

3 where interface with coyotes is expected. In contrast, 

only one hybrid litter was found this year, and this litter 

was also located at the edge of Zone 3.

Due to success in implementing the Red Wolf Adaptive 

Management Plan, the boundaries of Zones 1 and 2 are 

being expanded to reflect the successful expansion of the 

coyote and hybrid free zone. 

Volume 3, Issue 1 July, 2002

Red Wolf News

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Adaptive Management Plan: Update 2002 

October 2001 through June 2002

Wild red wolf population in 

Northeastern North Carolina

? Red wolf population is estimated at 100, 

72 of which are radio collared. Twentyone sterilized hybrids and coyotes are 

also radio collared and hold space. 

? Red wolves range over about 1.5 million 

acres of public and private land.

Red Wolf News Long Overdue

Two years have passed since the last edition of Red Wolf News. Since then, many 

faces have changed but the dedication to red wolf recovery remains strong. 

Jennifer Gilbreath, who once handled red wolf outreach and education left in 2000,

and her presence has been truly missed. That same year, Biological Technician 

Leslie Schutte came on board, and with the help of Biologist Chris Lucash and many 

hard working telemetry interns, they began an extensive mobile ground telemetry 

program for the monitoring of red wolf movements. In 2001, Bud Fazio 

became the new Team Leader for the Red Wolf Recovery Program, and this year, 

Shauna Baron has joined the team to handle our long overdue outreach needs.

In order to establish a healthy and viable population of red 

wolves, the wolves must be able to defend their territories 

against other non-wolf canids. Recent observations suggest 

that red wolves are beginning to displace coyotes and 

hybrids out of their territories, though confirmation of 

displacement by red wolves will require further investigation. 

The red wolf field team has extraordinary plans for 2002. One 

effort will focus on removing sterile hybrids from Zone 2. 

This will allow red wolves to acquire those territories through 

natural migration or by the insertion of red 

wolves into those areas by the field team. 

Red wolves from the island propagation 

sites may be released or inserted into the 

wild population. In addition, captive born 

pups may be fostered into wild red wolf 

litters. These methods allow for a unique 

way to augment the wild red wolf population, increase genetic diversity and enhance 

the overall survival of wild red wolves.

The Red Wolf Recovery Program 

continues to make great strides in 

building the world’s only wild red 

wolf population. Cutting edge work in genetics helps us to 

understand and manage red wolves better with each passing 

year, and techniques such as fostering show new hope for 

achieving milestones in red wolf recovery. The Red Wolf 

Recovery Program has come a long way in thirty years, and 

we look forward to even greater success in the future.

Original Management zones of the red wolf experimental 

population area, Northeastern North Carolina 
PAGE 2 RED WOLF NEWS VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1

Springtime in North Carolina is always exciting, bringing 

with it the arrival of new red wolf puppies. This spring, 9 

red wolf litters have been confirmed with 40 puppies 

being produced.

In May, the red wolf field team 

implemented the first fostering of captive 

born red wolf puppies from a zoo into a 

wild red wolf litter. 

The North Carolina Zoological Park 

donated two pups, a male and a female, 

from a litter of six born at the zoo. The 

pups were implanted with microchips for 

future identific ation and were transported 

to northeastern North Carolina. 

The captive pups were then fostered into a wild wolf den 

containing two pups of identical age. Last year, this adult 

female raised six pups and we feel she can easily handle a 

litter of four.

2002 Denning Season 

The female has accepted the captive born pups as her own 

and all appear to be doing well. The female is being 

monitored from a distance using radio telemetry and so far 

she has been attending the den regularly. 

Confirmation of the survival of these pups

will not come until the Fall when the pups 

will be large enough to be captured and 

fitted with a radio collar. 

Fostering has been successful among 

captive wolves and has positive 

implications for the wild red wolf recovery 

effort. If successful, the ability to foster 

captive born pups into the wild enables the 

USFWS to further enhance genetic diversity 

and overall survival of the wild red wolf population. 

 

Our special thanks to the North Carolina Zoological Park for their 

dedication to the red wolf recovery effort. 

The captive breeding program: By Will Waddell, Red Wolf Captive Breeding Program Coordinator.

This newsletter is a

 publication of the US 

Fish and Wildlife 

Service. 

Comments or questions 

can be addressed to:

Shauna Baron, 

Biologist / Outreach 

Coordinator

Red Wolf Recovery 

PO Box 1969 Manteo, 

North Carolina 27954

Email 

Shauna_Baron@fws.gov 

The passing of an old friend: Wolf 331M

Thirty-three Red Wolf Species 

Survival Plan (RWSSP) cooperators in 

20 states now participate in the 

national breeding program and 

manage a population of 147 red 

wolves. 

Recently the RWSSP approved a 

three-year action plan establishing 

several key areas of focus, including 

four action items:

1) Continue to develop assisted 

reproductive technologies (semen 

banking, fecal hormone profiles, artificial 

insemination) as part of a long-term 

strategy for red wolf captive-rearing.

2) Initiate a study to characterize 

behavior, husbandry and environmental 

factors in the context of captive 

reproductive success.

3) Investigate safe, effective and 

reversible methods of contraception as a 

population management tool.

4) Increase the number of participants in 

the RWSSP. 

 

Providing accurate information and 

educating visitors about the red wolf 

and the recovery program was also 

acknowledged as a core action item 

where the RWSSP can have a positive 

impact. 

Red wolves managed in the captive 

breeding program provide a safety net 

to their wild counterparts. The RWSSP 

continues to serve a vital role in the 

recovery program and is committed to 

our long standing partnership with the 

FWS in efforts to restore red wolves. 

 Wolf 331M, the last of the original captive born adult red wolves released at the Alligator 

River National Wildlife Refuge, passed away in October of 2001. Life in the wild can be hard work, 

especially for captive born animals, but wolf 331M outlived his captive born peers, reaching the 

astonishing age of 13 years old. 

 He was born at the Bull’s Island captive breeding facility on April 21, 1988. He was 

released into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on January 18, 1989, quickly learning to 

secure food and take care of himself. For twelve years he led a healthy normal life in the wild. 

 Last fall the red wolf field team received a report of an old wolf sitting by the side of the 

road. The onset of old age had caused 331M to become disoriented and he was brought back into 

captivity. His condition continued to deteriorate and the field team made the decision to euthanize

him to alleviate his suffering.

 His contribution to the wild population and his will to survive will not soon be forgotten. In

twelve years he sired more than twenty red wolf pups and his heritage now stretches through four 

generations. With the arrival of this year’s puppies, his memory lives on as his new grandchildren 

take their place in the wild red wolf population. 

Red Wolf Puppies: USFWS