Red Wolf Recovery Project
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Red Wolf, Canis rufus
The red wolf is one of two species of wolves in North America, the
other being the gray wolf, Canis lupus. As their name suggests,
red wolves are known for the characteristic reddish color of their
fur most apparent behind the ears and along the neck and legs,
but are mostly brown and buff colored with some black along their
backs. Intermediate in size to gray wolves and coyotes, the average
adult red wolf weighs 45-80 pounds, stands about 26 inches at the
shoulder and is about 4 feet long from the tip of the nose to the
end of the tail.
Red wolves are social animals that live in packs consisting
of a breeding adult pair and their offspring of different years,
typically five to eight animals. Red wolves prey on a variety of
wild mammals such as raccoon, rabbit, white-tailed deer, nutria,
and other rodents. Most active at dusk and dawn, red wolves are elusive
and generally avoid humans and human activity.
