Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Red wolf (Canis rufus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

The red wolf is one of two species of wolves in the world, 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.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Red wolf 

  • Population location: Entire, except where listed as experimental populations below
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Florida , North Carolina , South Carolina
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:  ALLIGATOR RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CAPE ROMAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MATTAMUSKEET NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , POCOSIN LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ST. VINCENT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  • Population location: U.S.A. (portions of NC and TN_see 17.84(c)(9))
    Listing status:  Experimental Population, Non-Essential
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
03/11/1967 Southeast Region (Region 4) except where EXPN
11/19/1986 Southeast Region (Region 4) U.S.A. (portions of NC and TN)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 9 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/05/1999 64 FR 60454 Notice of Three Public Open Houses Prior to Proposing a Revision to the Special Rule for a Nonessential Experimental Population of Red Wolves in North Carolina
12/09/1997 62 FR 64799 64800 ETWP; 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist the Red Wolf
04/13/1995 60 FR 18939 18948 ETWP; Revision of the Special Rule for Nonessential Experimental Populations of Red Wolves in North Carolina and Tennessee
01/13/1992 57 FR 1246 1250 ETWP; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Red Wolf, Canis rufus; 57 FR 1246 1250
11/04/1991 56 FR 56325 56334 ETWP; Determination of Experimental Population Status for an Introduced Population of Red Wolves in North Carolina and Tennessee; 56 FR 56325 56334
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
11/04/1991 56 FR 56325 56334 ETWP; Determination of Experimental Population Status for an Introduced Population of Red Wolves in North Carolina and Tennessee; 56 FR 56325 56334
11/19/1986 51 FR 41790 41797 Determination of Experimental Population Status for Introduced Population of Red Wolves in North Carolina; 51 FR 41790-41797

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
10/26/1990 Red Wolf Recovery/Species Survival Plan View Implementation Progress Final Revision 2
Five Year Review
Date Title
09/28/2007 Red Wolf 5-Year Review

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Red wolf.

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Red wolf

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Finding
12/09/1997 62 FR 64799 64800 ETWP; 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist the Red Wolf
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 01/13/1992 57 FR 1246 1250 ETWP; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Red Wolf, Canis rufus; 57 FR 1246 1250
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: August 24, 2009