Red Wolves are Now Critically Endangered, Fewer than 20 Remain in the Wild

The critically endangered red wolf, one of the world’s rarest canid species, faces increasing threats due to habitat encroachment and vehicle collisions. In a devastating incident earlier this year, a male red wolf known as 2444M was killed by a vehicle on North Carolina’s Highway 64. His death tragically rippled through the already fragile red wolf population, as his partner, 2-year-old female 2413F, was left alone to care for their litter of five pups. Unable to manage as a first-time, single mother, her five pups sadly did not survive.

Photo Credit: Ryan Nordsven/ USFWS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that the death of the father wolf indirectly led to the loss of the entire litter. “One vehicle strike ultimately killed six wolves,” explained Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The tragic deaths of these pups illustrate how a single collision can impact an entire species population.”

Red wolves, once numbering in the thousands and roaming across eastern North America, now number fewer than 20 in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program had previously succeeded in increasing the wild population to over 120 wolves. However, the program was paused in 2015, and in the years following, the population dropped drastically to fewer than seven wolves. Although the recovery program was restarted in 2021, serious challenges, including vehicle collisions and limited habitat, continue to endanger the species.

Vehicle strikes are now the leading cause of mortality among red wolves, especially along Highway 64, which bisects the red wolves’ last remaining habitat. Five other red wolves have been killed by vehicles near this highway in the past 14 months alone. To address this, the Center for Biological Diversity has launched a campaign to raise funds for building wildlife crossings along Highway 64, with an anonymous donor pledging to match up to $2 million.

Wildlife crossings not only aid red wolves but also support other species in the area, including black bears, bobcats, spotted turtles, and river otters. Research has shown that these crossings can reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions by up to 97 percent, making roads safer for both wildlife and motorists. For the red wolf, these crossings could mean the difference between survival and extinction, as conservationists work tirelessly to protect this critically endangered species and its fragile habitat.