Red Wolf Summit 2024
As a partner of the American Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction), we sent our Wildlife Curator, Taylor Berry, to the annual summit meeting to discuss conservation efforts. For the three-day conference, the team determined an updated pairing plan for over 200 Red Wolves in human care, in addition to common hurdles that care facilities face. As a critically endangered species, the ultimate goal is to have Red Wolves thriving in the wild—not in human care. To work towards this end goal, breeding pairs must conserve genetic diversity, and social dynamics must remain natural.
For care facilities with public viewing, we have discovered that Red Wolves face a visibility issue. As extremely social learners, the wolves can pick up signaling cues from visitors, which increases their dependence on humans. Clay is an older Red Wolf in our care who was once released into the wild in North Carolina, but he was since recaptured by wildlife authorities for his own safety. He had become too comfortable with humans, which is harmful for recovery efforts. To avoid situations such as these, some facilities have limited public exposure and installed live-feed cameras for public education. At Reflection Riding, it is important that we consider our involvement in the Red Wolf SAFE program as a public facility. As scientists, we must adapt and adopt the best practices for species recovery. In the process of learning, our team is currently evaluating these standards of care.
The summit also determined Red Wolf pairings for the next year. We currently have four adult wolves in our care—Clay, Artemis, Colbert, and Juniper. However, we will see some changes towards the end of this year. Juniper is capable of producing pups, so she will return to Washington State for a mate pairing. Her current mate, Colbert, has reproductive issues and will instead be paired with a spayed female. Two brothers from North Carolina will also enter our care, and Clay and Artemis will remain together as an older companion pair. Although this is the current plan, keep in mind that the plan is subject to change.
Some more interesting takeaways from the 2024 Red Wolf Summit are the following:
Every Red Wolf in the SAFE program has their genetic code on file. At every annual meeting, pairings are reconsidered for the next breeding season. With such a small population, the goal is to maintain genetic diversity. For overall species success, you want each pair to be the least genetically similar as possible. It is also important to give more representation to those genes less common in the population. For these reasons, yearly wolf transfers are necessary.
Research biologist Joey Hinton from the Red Wolf Coalition is starting a project on preferred mate selection for wolves in human care. In the wild, animals are often able to choose their mates from a selection of many; however, those in human care are often paired with an individual expected to become their mate. Although the pairs may be genetically valuable, they may not be beneficial due to individual personalities. Joey plans to analyze behavioral trends in Red Wolves to see what makes a successful pair beyond genetics.
The American Red Wolf (Canis rufus) is valued predator of the Southeast. Through Red Wolf SAFE and thoughtful conservation, we can restore the animal back into our landscape.
