Red Wolf
CR

Red Wolf

Canis rufus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The red wolf faces extinction primarily due to hybridization with coyotes, which dilutes the genetic integrity of the remaining population. Habitat fragmentation and human encroachment have forced red wolves into closer contact with expanding coyote populations, accelerating genetic introgression. Vehicle strikes and illegal shooting continue to cause direct mortality, while the species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and inbreeding depression.

Threat summary

Habitat

Red wolves inhabit coastal prairies, forests, wetlands, and agricultural areas of the southeastern United States. They prefer areas with dense cover for denning and hunting, including pocosins, swamps, and mixed pine-hardwood forests.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorGrassland· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorWetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in CANIDAE

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Cuon alpinusEN

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Threatened in Canada

Calidris ferrugineaVU

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Lake Lamprey

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Nymphaea loriana

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Coregonus huntsmaniCR

Coregonus huntsmani

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red Wolf classified as Critically Endangered?
Red Wolf is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The red wolf faces extinction primarily due to hybridization with coyotes, which dilutes the genetic integrity of the remaining population. Habitat fragmentation and human encroachment have forced red wolves into closer contact with expanding coyote populations, accelerating genetic introgression. Vehicle strikes and illegal shooting continue to cause direct mortality, while the species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and inbreeding depression.
Where does Red Wolf live?
Red Wolf occurs in Canada, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Red Wolf?
The main threats to Red Wolf are 5.1, 8.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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