Pocosins are forest/wetland mosaics characterized by an overstory of loblolly and pond pine ( Pinus taeda and Pinus serotina, respectively) and an understory of evergreen shrubs (Christensen et al. Red Wolves reintroduced into north-eastern North Carolina and their descendants have made extensive use of habitat types ranging from agricultural lands to pocosins. There is evidence that the species was found in highest numbers in the once extensive bottomland river forests and swamps of the south-east (Paradiso and Nowak 1971, 1972 Riley and McBride 1972). However, many agree that this environment probably does not typify preferred Red Wolf habitat. The last naturally occurring population utilized the coastal prairie marshes of south-west Louisiana and south-east Texas (Carley 1975 Shaw 1975). Given their wide historical distribution, Red Wolves probably utilized a large suite of habitat types at one time. Very little is known about Red Wolf habitat because the species' range was severely reduced by the time scientific investigations began. Chronic concerns over Red Wolves hybridizing with Coyotes and Red Wolf/Coyote hybrids and increasing conflict with landowners, prompted the USFWS to consider restricting the Red Wolf restoration effort to federal lands in mainland Dare County in an area that can support no more than 20-30 individuals. The Red Wolf had been reintroduced to this area in 1987 and within 15 years it had grown to occupy federal, state, and private lands to the west of mainland Dare County. (Click on map for more detail) Population Informationįree-ranging Red Wolves exist only in a reintroduced population in eastern North Carolina, USA. Today the species is largely restricted to federal public lands of mainland Dare County, North Carolina. Recent genetic evidence supports a similar but even greater extension of historic range into Algonquin Provincial Park in southern Ontario, Canada (Chambers et al. However, Nowak (1995) described the Red Wolf's historic range as extending northward into central Pennsylvania and later redefined the Red Wolf's range as extending even further north into the north-eastern USA and extreme eastern Canada (Nowak 2002). Geographic Range InformationĪs recently as 1979, the Red Wolf was believed to have a historical distribution limited to the south-eastern United States (Nowak 1979). Hybridization with Coyotes or Red Wolf x Coyote hybrids and landowner intolerance (and subsequent human-caused mortality) are the primary threats to the species' persistence in the wild. If such a restriction is finalized wolves living outside this area probably will be afforded little or no federal protection or be captured and returned to captivity to bolster the vigour of the captive breeding programme. This ~ 800 km² area can support no more than 20 to 30 wolves. By 2016, the USFWS began restricting the reintroduction effort to federal public land in mainland Dare County, North Carolina (i.e., the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Dare County Bombing Range). By the early 2000s the total population within the reintroduction area included more than 150 animals. The Red Wolf was Extinct in the Wild by 1980, but was reintroduced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1987 into eastern North Carolina. (2012) for a brief review of recent literature concerning the status of this species, which they considered a full species, as does this assessment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |