Four litters of red wolf pups have been born in North Carolina this year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program.
Red wolves are a critically endangered species and are teetering on the brink of extinction. Only 22 adult wolves remain in North Carolina’s Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges and surrounding private lands.
“It’s inspiring to see these underdogs making another incredible comeback,” said Will Harlan, Southeast director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Red wolves are thriving in the wild, thanks to the dedication of the Fish and Wildlife Service, landowners and communities working together. These pups provide real hope for the future of red wolves.”
Three out of the four litters were from red wolf breeding pairs, and one litter was born on private land.
Red wolves were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1970s, and since 2020 the leading cause of death for red wolves in vehicle strikes. Eight wolves have been killed in the last six years from cars hitting them, almost all of these occurred along Highway 64, which runs through the heart of the red wolves’ refuges.
North Carolina agencies are working together to finalize contracts to increase wildlife crossing across the state.
To learn more about red wolves and their pups, visit SaveRedWolves.org.
Chart by Wolf Conservation Center