THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 17, NO. 4 WINTER 2007 Features Special Issue Red Wolf Restoration: 2 Letter from the Executive Director 4 A 20-Year Journey of the Red Wolf Coalition Fall 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the first release Kim Wheeler of red wolves back into the wild in northeastern North Hunter Education and Carolina. A look at the “early days” of the red wolf’s journey 20 Red Wolf Restoration provides perspective on the triumphant story of Canis rufus. David Denton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Diane Hendry 25 Back from the Brink of Red Wolf FAQ Extinction: The Red Wolf 8 What is a red wolf? Where did red wolves Species Survival Program originally live? What does a red wolf look Will Waddell like? Learn the answers to these questions and more important facts about these beautiful creatures. 26 Red Wolf Learning Resources: Steve Grooms A Sampling for Teachers, Evelyn L. Mercer Non-formal Educators, Return to the Wild: The Cliff-hanger Parents and Students 11 Story of Red Wolf Recovery Mark MacAllister The red wolf program has been a lot like an Indiana Jones cliff-hanger film, full of narrow escapes. Today, in spite of all the close brushes with extinction, the red wolf is still with us. Departments Steve Grooms 3 From the Executive Director Free to Wander 15 Twenty years ago eight red wolves were released into 19 Tracking the Pack the wilds of northeastern North Carolina. Their release, the first reintroduction of a carnivore that had been declared extinct 21 Personal Encounters in the wild, solidified the red wolf’s place in the history books. 28 A Look Beyond David R. Rabon Jr. On The Cover Wolf images, left to right: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Evelyn L. Mercer, Greg Koch Photography (www.gkphotography.net) Sundial image: Getty Images Brad McPhee, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Letter from the Executive Director of the Red Wolf Coalition by Kim Wheeler Publications Director Mary Ortiz Graphics Coordinator hat does the Red Wolf Coalition do?” I am frequently asked that Carissa L.W. Knaack “ question, and there’s no better way to begin an answer than with Consulting Editor the organization’s mission statement: The Red Wolf Coalition Mary Keirstead W advocates for the long-term survival of red wolf populations by teaching about Technical Editor the red wolf and by fostering public involvement in red wolf conservation. Seems L. David Mech clear to me, but what exactly is an advocate? What does an advocate do? Graphic Designer The dictionary says an advocate is one who speaks or writes in support or Tricia Austin defense of a person or a cause. The Coalition advocates through education— Special Publication Editor and Coordinator teaching people about red wolves and engaging them in the work of con- Cornelia Hutt serving wildlife and habitat. Our programs, informational materials and International Wolf (1089-683X) is published curricula are science-based, and our advocacy is grounded in truth and fact. quarterly and copyrighted, 2007, by the We rely on our partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) International Wolf Center, 12615 Co.Road 9, Red Wolf Recovery staff to offer up-to-date and accurate Minneapolis, MN 55441, USA. information about the recovery program and to give a e-mail: [email protected]. All rights firsthand account of the work being done in the field. reserved. The result is an increasing number of requests for red Publications agreement no. 1536338 wolf programs from private citizens, schools, community Membership in the International Wolf groups and private organizations. It’s good to be popular! Center includes a subscription to In celebration of our 10th anniversary, the Coalition International Wolf magazine, free admission has brought the International Wolf Center’s new world- to the Center, and discounts on programs class exhibit “Wolves and Wildlands in the 21st Century” and merchandise. • Lone Wolf memberships from its home in Minnesota to red wolf country in are U.S. $35 • Wolf Pack $60 • Wolf Columbia, North Carolina. This exhibit has enabled us to Associate $125 • Wolf Sponsor $500 teach visitors and local residents alike about the wolves • Alpha Wolf $1000. Canada and other Kim Wheeler countries, add U.S. $15 per year for airmail of North America and about the challenges of coexisting postage, $7 for surface postage. Contact the with these fascinating and complex predators. As the 21st century evolves, International Wolf Center, 1396 Highway more land will be developed and the human population will increase. Can we 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA; e-mail: leave room on the landscape for wolves and other large carnivores? Will we? [email protected]; phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLF The Red Wolf Coalition renews its commitment to advocate for the long- International Wolf is a forum for airing term survival of red wolf populations in this, our 10th anniversary year and facts, ideas and attitudes about wolf-related in the 20th anniversary year of the red wolf’s return to its wild home in North issues. Articles and materials printed in Carolina. We will broaden our audiences, expand our programs and Web site, International Wolf do not necessarily reflect cultivate new partners including state and federal agencies and government the viewpoint of the International Wolf Center or its board of directors. entities, encourage new members to support our work, bring people to red wolf country— International Wolf welcomes submissions of and swat mosquitoes at our popular howling personal adventures with wolves and wolf photographs. Prior to submission of other safaris. And one day, our vision of a Red Wolf types of manuscripts, address queries to Center will become a reality! Mary Ortiz, publications director. We are proud of what we do, and we are International Wolf is printed entirely with grateful for the partnerships that have made soy ink on recycled and recyclable paper us a stronger, more focused organization. (text pages contain 20% post-consumer Those include our partnership with the waste, cover paper contains 10% post- International Wolf Center. We hope that this consumer waste). We encourage you issue of International Wolf will encourage to recycle this magazine. others throughout the nation and the world to PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or join us in our efforts to keep the red wolf for- obvious from the caption or article text, ever wild in the southeastern United States. I photos are of captive wolves. Brad McPhee, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium 2 Winter 2007 www.wolf.org INTERNATIONAL From the Executive Director WOLF CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Chair Dr. L. David Mech Milestones Matter Vice Chair ilestones matter. Without them we lose perspective and the relevance of the mile- Dr. Rolf O. Peterson stone to our day-to-day work. Marking 20 years of red wolf recovery in the wilds Secretary of North Carolina is surely a conservation milestone that deserves reflection. Paul B. Anderson M Treasurer Perhaps foremost we should take the moment to celebrate the decision to save a species from extinction. Can there be any higher calling than saving from oblivion a fellow passenger on Dr. Larry Anderson spaceship earth? The Red Wolf Recovery Program also paved the way through its practices Cree Bradley and personnel to further wolf recovery in other parts of the country, nowhere more so than Tom Dwight in Yellowstone National Park. These successes, in turn, have given other species recovery Amy Bromberg Funk programs around the globe reason to be optimistic that their work can be accomplished too. Nancy Gibson A hearty howl of congratulations to all the people behind the program and especially Hélène Grimaud to the Red Wolf Coalition, which marks its own milestone of 10 years of advocacy and Jim Hammill educational work. Cornelia “Neil” Hutt On a personal level I recently crossed a milestone of my own. In Dean Johnson September, I marked 14 years of service as executive director of the Linda Lemke International Wolf Center. It has been a great ride, full of wonderful wolf Dania Miwa experiences. None was better than standing on the tarmac in 1995, Mike Phillips watching a small plane with its cargo of wolves bank against the backdrop Debbie Reynolds of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies, heading south for Idaho and Jerry Sanders Yellowstone, where a great experiment would return wolves to America’s Karen Saul Northern Rockies. Equally satisfying has been the opportunity to meet Paul Schurke dedicated people from all over the globe who play a part in the complex Paul Sletten world of wolves—whether Dr. Djuro Huber from Croatia, who had to deal Ted Spaulding with unexploded mines while conducting his research, or Tungalagtuya Teri Williams Khuukhendu of Mongolia, whose magnificent native dress brightened the Walter Medwid meeting rooms at one of our international wolf conferences. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I start a new adventure this fall as I leave the International Wolf Center and head to Vermont to assume the position of executive director of Northwoods Stewardship Center, Walter M. Medwid an organization focused on land stewardship, environmental education, conservation MISSION science and outdoor recreation. The mountains, farms, fields and forests of the region and the challenges of a new job beckon me east. Leaving the Center is no small decision. The International Wolf Never have I worked for an organization with so many dedicated, hard-working staff Center advances the survival and volunteers. Together we have created a powerful synergy, bringing intention, creativity of wolf populations by and success to efforts on behalf of wolf survival. teaching about wolves, their Wolves matter too.