Red Wolf



Photo courtesy of Cathy Hughes
Name: Red Wolf
Scientific name: Canis rufus
Range:As far north as 
                 Pennsylvania and as 
                 west as Texas
Habitat:Small packs, 
                  consisting   of adult
                  pair and young 
                  offspring. Require 
                  suffecient prey and
                  minimal human impacts.
Status:Endangered
Diet in the wild:White-tailed deer
                 and raccoon but will eat
                 any small animal available.
Diet in the zoo: Fast once a week, bone or muscle meat once a week.  2/3 Scienc eDiet Canine Maintenance, 1/3 frozen feline diet the remainder of the week.
Location in the zoo:Texas Wild Exhibit

 
Physical description: 
  • Height:  15" to 16" shoulder height 
  • Body length: 55"-65" 
  • Weight 40 to 80 lbs.
  • Color ranges from cinnamon red, gray to black.
  • Tail is usually brown with black shading.
  • Most notable feature are its long ears and legs

Courtesy of Timber Wolf Information Network

 
General information:

Red Wolves generally roam in small packs usually consisting of an adult pair and their offspring.  Red wolves can breed as early as their second year and have 3 to 5 pups each.  In order for the red wolves to survive in the wild they need anywhere from 10 and 100 square miles of habitat to hunt and live.  Red wolves have become extinct due to hybridization with other wolves such as the grey wolf and mexican wolf and the coyotes.  Red wolves have also lost their habitat but are beginning to be reintroduced by the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.


 
Special anatomical, physiological
or behavioral adaptations:

When a red wolf is trapped or feels threatened he will hold his tail upright and snarl exposing only canines and a few front teeth.  He will also raise the hair on his neck and back.


Cathy Hughes

 
Source Materials and Related Links:

 
Page author:{short description of image}Angela Latigo

Send E-mail to: amlatigo@hotmail.com

or to mac@whozoo.org


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