Be on Alert, Red Wolves Are Returning to the Smoky Mountains

a red wolf in a forest

Reintroducing wolves to the Smokies has previously been unsuccessful (photo by Rejean Bedard/iStock)

Efforts are being made to reintroduce the endangered population to North Carolina

Of the countless amazing experiences visitors can find in the Smokies, perhaps one of the most unique and memorable are animal sightings and encounters. Watching a mama bear cross the road with her twin cubs was certainly one of the highlights of our recent trip to the Smokies. We’ve also seen many deer and even the occasional elk when hiking in the National Park. But one animal you’ll be hard-pressed to find? The Red Wolf.

You’re unlikely to see a Red Wolf when you visit the Smoky Mountains. Although these wolves once ranged widely across the United States from Texas to Pennsylvania, they became critically endangered during the 20th century. In 1967, they were placed on the endangered species list. Since that time, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been managing a recovery program that is currently working toward increasing the Red Wolf population in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

The Red Wolf is a canine native to the southeastern United States (photo by Iftikhar Ahmad Khan/shutterstock.com)
The Red Wolf is a canine native to the southeastern United States (photo by Iftikhar Ahmad Khan/shutterstock.com)

Are there currently wolves in the Smoky Mountains?

No. Although historically Red Wolves have lived in the Smoky Mountains, the only known wild population currently lives in northeastern North Carolina. They’re nicknamed “America’s Wolf,” weighing 50-60 pounds on average. For reference, that’s smaller than a Gray Wolf but larger than a coyote.

According to the Red Wolf Recovery Program, only 18-20 wild Red Wolves remain, 17 of which have been collared and are closely monitored by scientists. There are an additional 257 captive Red Wolves across the U.S. The program has been working to reintroduce captive wolves back into wild family groups for decades.

In 1991 and 1992, several Red Wolves were released into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While they produced several litters, none of the offspring survived to adulthood. The coyote population was growing in the area at the same time, and there was some evidence of cross-breeding between coyotes and Red Wolves. Both species also competed for the same food sources. Although Red Wolves are larger than coyotes, they are also outnumbered by the smaller animals.

As a result, many of the Red Wolves left the boundaries of the park, which unsurprisingly caused problems with residents. Many of the wolves were either killed or didn’t make it due to unknown causes. In 1998, the wolves that had been tracked using collars were recaptured and removed from the area.

bull elk with a calf
Efforts to populate elk in North Carolina have been quite successful (photo by Harry Collins/stock.adobe.com)

Efforts to support Red Wolf populations in North Carolina

Since then, efforts have focused on supporting the population in Eastern North Carolina. Red Wolves mate for life and live in small family groups of 4-5 made up of a mated pair and a few of their offspring from different litters. In recent years, scientists have introduced captive-born wolf pups into wild litters to be fostered. They’ve also attempted to encourage mating bonds between captive-born and wild wolves in acclimation pens. Results have been mixed with some breeding pairs producing litters and subsequently being released into the wild.

In short, you probably won’t see any Red Wolves in the Smoky Mountains soon. But you might just see a coyote with some reddish fur. The reintroduction efforts of the 1990s ultimately failed. However, scientists did use the experience to build a more successful program of releasing Elk into the area. Approximately fifty elk were released in 2000 and 2001, and that population has grown to an estimated 200.

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