Protecting Red Wolves

 Red Wolves

Red wolves are an intermediate stage of canine between gray wolves and coyotes. Though often misconstrued for coyotes because of their similar fur coloring red wolves are significantly larger. They can range between 45 to 80 pounds as compared to coyotes which range from 15 to 50 pounds. According to ICUN redlist the red wolf is primarily found on the Eastern coasts of North Carolina in the United States of America. This area consists of temperate forests and shrublands which are highly suitable for the species. Due to their size and diet red wolves are fairly high ranking in their habitat. They have little to no predators as they are predators themselves in their environments. Red wolves hunt and kill small mammals such as squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons to meet the requirement of 2 to 5 pounds of meat they need daily to sustain themselves. When hunting in packs the wolves can take down larger species like deer to provide a longer-lasting food source. From young pups, the baby animals are raised in families, or more commonly known as packs. There are leaders in packs and a form of hierarchy among them. A pack will usually have a dominant female breeder who continues the cycle until the animals or pack dies out. In North Carolina, there are an estimated 20 to 30 mature individuals. With a much larger mature population, the species has faced a decreasing trend.  

Above is an image from Carsten Tolkmit of two red wolves fighting for dominance within their pack's hierarchy.

Pictured below there's an image of two adolescent red wolves in the forest taken by Valerie, a rare sight considering their matured population. 

    

This image pictured on the right from Leoboudv

demonstrates the distinct size difference between red wolves and coyotes

 

To the left is a common squirrel from Tjflex2 that a red wolf would capture daily for food

Red Wolf Habitat

Red wolves live in forests and shrublands located directly on the coasts of North Carolina. These forests are deciduous forests that lose their leaves annually. They have four major seasons spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These forests require the animals and organisms that live there to all take part in the habitat's system in order to thrive. For example, the trees provide food sources for small mammals like squirrels, and the squirrels plant more trees by storing their nuts and seeds. It's a cycle that continuously replenishes itself. For the red wolves that live in this area, it is vital for them like any other species to remain in a habitat like forests where there are plentiful food sources. These forests can also provide protection for the wolves from humans that could hunt them. 

Below is an image of the four seasons taken by Nedra that takes place in a deciduous forest habitat like                                                                     that of the red wolf

The temperate forest biome is the biome that the red wolf resides in. This biome is found along the Eastern Coast of the United States and Eastern Asia. Each biome has specific characteristics like its average temperatures, rainfall, and soil fertility. Temperate forests have average temperatures according to season ranging between -22 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. They receive 30 to 60 inches of rain per year. The topsoil of these forests tends to be very fertile from the compost it receives each autumn from fallen leaves. Compared to other biomes like deserts, temperate forests are ideal for many organisms. For species like oak and maple trees, they are exceptionally ideal. These trees are the primary producers for a majority of the primary consumers in the biome. Some of the primary consumers consist of gray squirrels, rabbits, and small birds like bluejays. At the top of the food chain would be animals like the red wolf. They are tertiary consumers who feed off the primary consumer group. 

Here we have an example of a primary producer, the oak tree. Taken by Peter Prokosch

Above is an image provided by Jacqui Trump of a bluejay, a primary consumer commonly found in North American temperate forests

Threats

One major threat facing the red wolf species is the hybridization with other animals. Red wolves were originally introduced to the North Carolina region because of the absence of other canine species like coyotes. This threat is mainly specific to red wolves and coyotes, more so red wolves for their dwindling population. Due to the decreasing population of red wolves, the remaining animals are forced to mate with other similar species causing there to be fewer pure red wolves in the aggregate. As a whole, the temperate forest biome is minimally affected by this hybridizing threat but it could prove drastic for the red wolf species according to ICUN redlist. There are no effects facing the abiotic components of the biome but there could be prolonged effects facing the primary producers and consumers of the temperate forests. If the red wolf species were to die out there would be fewer predators consuming small mammals that feed off the primary producers. This boost in population for primary consumers could potentially hurt trees that can't keep up with the rates with which their nuts and seeds are taken. Without primary producers, the whole ecosystem could collapse, which is why it is vital for species to remain in their cycles. 

To the left here is shown a red wolf and coyote hybrid from Troy and Rusty Lilly

Hybridization is not a specific threat facing the temperate forest biome. In other biomes such as the forest grasslands, other large predators like tigers hybridize in order to breed. Ligers used to be bred in captivity but have been discouraged due to the endangered tiger population according to Jani Hall from national geographic. Again this isn't a large threat facing other biomes but the extinction of one species can negatively impact a whole ecosystem.

Keene's Solutions

    A typical student or community member here in Keene may be unaware of the hybridization threat facing red wolves and other species like it. There are greater, louder threats in the biomes surrounding us such as deforestation and industrialization. I'm not diminishing the severity of these other threats but in order to save particular species, we have to pay attention to all the unique threats including hybridization. No activities that take place here in Keene directly impact this threat but the choices we make to pay attention to certain threats facing species can inadvertently harm them.

    Solutions for this threat begin with spreading awareness. The average person could lack knowledge on this subject so informing the public on hybridization and its effects could spur a larger movement to address the threat. Another possible solution could be to move the remaining mature red wolves to a location where they can breed with their own kind. This would ensure the species wasn't hybridized and also promote the increase of other species like coyotes. Although coyotes are persistent creatures and have appeared across the Northeastern United States according to Alina Bradford and Patrick Pester, so arranging a habitat for the red wolves would be more beneficial. Larger solutions can't take place till the public is aware of the issues though, so small but meaningful steps are the way to go from here. 

All across the country, there are designated areas for endangered animals. For the survival of the red wolf, it might prove crucial for them to be provided sanctuary. Below is a picture provided by Tylubeatz demonstrating such sanctuaries.