Red Wolf

The red wolf is a medium-sized canid native to the southeastern United States, recognized for its reddish-tan coat and slender build. It is closely related to the coyote and the gray wolf but is distinct in its genetics and behavior. Once widespread, red wolves faced severe decline due to habitat loss and human activities, leading to their classification as critically endangered. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and captive breeding to ensure their survival. Red wolves play an important role in ecosystems as apex or mesopredators, helping maintain balanced populations of prey species.