Red Wolf 2025 Update

There’s great news about the American Red Wolf! The in-situ population has significantly increased as of September 2025!

In a recent update, the US Fish and Wildlife Service states the total in-situ population is estimated at 28-31 (up from 16). 

This population increase is a direct result of successful and strategic management practices within the Red Wolf Recovery area in northeastern North Carolina. This season, there were four litters born for a total of 20 pups with up to 16 pups remaining of which ten are known. All four litters were born to first time mothers. 

When recovering an in-situ endangered species, biologists often create breeding pairs by introducing Red Wolves to strategic locations or pairing them in an acclimation pen. One of this year’s litters was born in an acclimation pen. There are currently five Red Wolf pairs in the eastern North Carolina Red Wolf population. Three of these pairs consist of a wild born female and a male that was born under human care and released into the wild. Two new breeding pairs were self formed. 39% of the current adult/sub-adult wild population is a result of Red Wolves being released into the wild from SAFE facilities. If we accounted for all Red Wolves born in the wild as a result of these releases, the percentage would be an even higher number! Reflection Riding has been a very active and proud member of the SAFE American Red Wolf program since 1996.

There have been no Red Wolf/coyote hybrid litters born in the last three years - this is a direct result of the coyote sterilization management practice. Currently, there are 53 sterilized coyotes with active radio collars in the Red Wolf recovery area.

Additionally, gunshot mortality is significantly down with none reported since May 2023. There was only one Red Wolf mortality in the last 12 months - the result of a car strike - this is also significantly lower.

SAFE and USFWS work closely together to manage the American Red Wolf population which can include fostering of puppies. This year, a cross fostering process took place to increase wild gene representation in the SAFE population and to reduce a large wild litter. Four pups were cross fostered from the wild to a SAFE litter and 1 pup was fostered from a SAFE litter to the wild. This unique management practice is highly successful.

In Red Wolf family highlights, during the bonding period this season, a two year old female pushed her mother out of their territory and paired with her mother’s mate from the previous season resulting in a litter of eight! A few weeks after whelping, the previous breeding female was allowed to return and is helping raise the pups! While this may sound crazy to us, this is a natural occurrence ensuring the population increases and remains strong. The sire of the litter was born at a SAFE facility and released into the wild as an adult.

The SAFE ex-situ population stands at 284 with 42 pups in 12 litters born this season. Three new facilities have joined the SAFE program bringing it to 52 total which means increased space for Red Wolves. This increase in space means a potentially larger ex-situ population to support the in-situ population with fostering and releases.

It takes a huge team to save the American Red Wolf and the extraordinary efforts of USFWS and SAFE American Red Wolf are making great strides towards saving the most endangered canid in the world!