ENDANGERED WOLF CONSERVATION

Updated on November 29, 2023

We traveled to North Carolina and St. Louis to learn about endangered wolf conservation, especially around Mexican and red wolves. We even had the chance to visit a place special to Wild Kingdom history. Read more about our travels and what’s being done to ensure a successful future for Mexican and red wolves.

Wild Red Wolves in North Carolina

Wild red wolves have drastically declined in population in the last decade, from around 130 to only around 30 now in the wild. These wild red wolves all live in North Carolina, and the Wild Kingdom crew traveled to Alligator River Wildlife Refuge in East Lake, North Carolina to learn more. Our team was guided by Joe Madison, program manager of the Red Wolf Recovery Program and Jennifer Koches of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wolf Facts vs. Fables

In North Carolina, our team learned that the fairytale image of the big, bad wolf couldn’t be further than the truth. Wolves are highly intelligent animals. They are caring, playful and devoted to family. Wolves live in family groups, where they care of their injured and educate their young.

Red Wolf Conservation

The red wolf population has dwindled largely due to hunting and traffic fatalities. To help aide in conservation, the Red Wolf Recovery Program team put bright orange radio collars on the wolves. These collars help make people aware that the wolves are highly endangered, and are not coyotes, which are commonly hunted.

In addition, telemetry devices are being used to track the wolves. We were able to use these devices to track a young female wolf who was out hunting for food for her new litter of pups — the first litter born in the wild in four years! Check out our announcement with some cute pictures on Facebook.

The highlight of the North Carolina trip was getting a real glimpse of a wild red wolf. She was far away, but our radars, cameras and binoculars were able to pick up some clear images of her.

Mexican and Red Wolf Conservation in St. Louis

Our wolf journey continued in St. Louis at the Endangered Wolf Center. This center is extra special to Wild Kingdom — it was founded by host Marlin Perkins and his wife Carol in 1971. The Endangered Wolf Center is key to the survival of the Mexican wolf. Every Mexican wolf in the wild today can trace their roots back to the center.

Endangered Wolf Center

While at the center, we spoke to Regina Mossotti, director of animal care and conservation, and Marguerite Garrick, Marlin Perkins’ daughter. Mossotti shared the center’s mission, to reproduce and release canids (the family of mammals that the wolf belongs to) back into the wild. They’re able to save these animals through research, awareness and reintroduction into the wild. The center also greatly focuses on educational programming to correct the myth of the “big, bad wolf.”

Wolf Food and Exercise

Like any animal, wolves have unique food and exercise needs. Wild Kingdom Co-host Peter Gros prepared enrichment activities and food for the different species.

First up were the African painted dogs. Peter prepared melons for an enrichment activity, adding sardines, mice, rats, deer meat and a variety of spices. This diet is very similar to what they would eat in the wild. Peter then placed the melons in the African painted dogs enclosure and watched as the dogs interacted with the food and each other, showing the hierarchy within the litter.

Next, the Wild Kingdom crew monitored from a blind as wolves fed on a frozen deer carcass – a refreshing summer treat on a hot day! Wolves are naturally afraid of humans. The center limits human interaction as much as possible to maintain this fear so when the wolves are released back into the wild, they’ll stay away from humans. This helps to ensure their survival in the wild.

Wolf Pup Checkups

Perhaps the cutest part of the trip was seeing five newborn red wolf pups. Peter participated in checkups where the wolf pups received vaccines and were sexed and microchipped. Peter and the center’s team kept the interaction fast. This is the first time the wolf pups interacted with humans.

For more stories like this, learn about the black-footed ferret and what experts are doing to ensure it doesn’t go extinct.