| Absent Within Counties | Unknown Within Counties |
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Hydrologic Unit Code References
| Quadrangle | Quadrangle Name |
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Quadrangle Distribution References
| Ecoregion | Ecoregion Name |
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| 232000 | Southeastern Mixed Forest |
Ecoregion Distribution References
| River Reach | River Reach Name |
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River Reach References
Distribution General Comments
Although the red wolf is now thought to have been extirpated from
the wild, the species at one time ranged from the South Atlantic
Seaboard west to central Oklahoma and Texas, and from the Gulf Coastal
States northward to the Ohio River Valley and Pennsylvania (01). It
is thought that the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains in
North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia were generally
inhabited by the gray wolf (Canis lupus).
In the spring of 1987 a reintroduction of Canis rufus into the
wild is planned on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Dare
and Tyrrell Counties, NC.
PRESENT OCCURRENCE:
Presently, the red wolf occurs only in zoos and captive breeding
programs. The last known free roaming red wolves were taken from the
wild in 1980. The primary captive breeding program is the Fish and
Wildlife Service's contracted breeding facility near Graham, WA, where
as of October 1986, 45 red wolves are maintained. The actual contract
is with the Point Defiance Zoological Garden of the Metropolitan Park
Board of Tacoma, Tocama, WA. It has been in effect since 1973.
Other red wolves are located at the Audubon Park and Zoological
Garden, New Orleans, LA; The Alexandria Zoological Park, Alexandria,
LA; The Texas Zoo, Victoria, TX; The Wild Canid Survival and Research
Center, Eureka, MO; Greater Baton Rouge Zoo, Baker, LA; Burnet Park
Zoo, Liverpool, NY; and Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma, WA. As of October
1986 these facilities housed a total of 30 red wolves. Collectively,
the species is represented by a total of 75 animals (as of October,
1986).
PAST OCCURRENCE:
Historically, the red wolf was native to the southeastern United
States (01). Although poorly understood, it is thought that the
species ranged throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina (02),
Alabama (03), Mississippi, Louisiana (04), and Arkansas (05). Except
for the higher elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, it
also occurred in North Carolina (06), Tennessee (07), Kentucky, and
Virginia. It was also found in southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, West Virginia, extreme southeastern Kansas and Pennsylvania.
The eastern halves of Oklahoma and Texas formed the westernmost
extension of the species' historic range, generally thought to be
along a line where deciduous cover gave way to open prairie.
Historical materials on range of the red wolf by County and State
is very sketchy. This is further complicated by reports that
represent hybrid forms. Information presented in the keyword and
narrative summary of County/State occurrence is based only on verified
accounts of red wolves. Some of these accounts date back to the
1800's. Some experts consider the historic range also to have
included all or most of Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware,
and the southern half of New Jersey. These states were not included
in the State or County keyword fields because there is no verified
data available for these states (01,09).
General Distribution References
