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I have included a link that explains the Red Wolf history better than I could write it. I will suffice it to say that the Red Wolf was classified as an endangered species in 1967. In the 70's the Red Wolf recovery program was in full swing. The concerns over even being remotely capable of saving the genetics of the Red Wolf was the chief concern at this time. There were those that did not even believe that the Red Wolf would be able to survive as a distinct species in the wild due to it's propensity to breed with other canids.
As such, I can't see any logic in attempting to release the pure Red Wolves back into the wild. Most of that decade was spent attempting to identify which wolves were genuine and which were a hybridization of other species, whether the eastern grey wolf or the coyote. "Only 17 of the 400 were determined to be full blooded red wolves and they were used to establish the captive breeding program (Nickens 1992)."
This does beg the question as to what happened to the remaining 383 mixes that were captured and deemed unworthy for the captive breeding program. I don't think it intentional for the government to release these back into the wild since the hybrids were some of the cause of the problem in the first place, but I surely could not speak for every individual within the system.
Another possibility for the "sightings" of these animals in Kentucky and the Carolinas during that time frame (70's) and so forth could possibly be due to the pressure of the attempts to capture the remaining wild red wolves. The capturing efforts were predominantly in Texas and Lousiana. However, a few wolves or hybrids may have been pushed into that region and found a home there. I don't know if that could ever be ascertained.
But, have a look at this photo below. I would say that one picture is worth a thousand words, but these days it could be said to be worth a thousand lies. Anyway, this "coyote" was claimed to have been killed somewhere in the northeast. When I look at it, I see very thick legs and as well as the large mass. If this photo is at all genuine, then I would tend to believe that it has to be at least some part wolf....or someone's dog.
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For the complete article...
http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/red_wolf.html
As such, I can't see any logic in attempting to release the pure Red Wolves back into the wild. Most of that decade was spent attempting to identify which wolves were genuine and which were a hybridization of other species, whether the eastern grey wolf or the coyote. "Only 17 of the 400 were determined to be full blooded red wolves and they were used to establish the captive breeding program (Nickens 1992)."
This does beg the question as to what happened to the remaining 383 mixes that were captured and deemed unworthy for the captive breeding program. I don't think it intentional for the government to release these back into the wild since the hybrids were some of the cause of the problem in the first place, but I surely could not speak for every individual within the system.
Another possibility for the "sightings" of these animals in Kentucky and the Carolinas during that time frame (70's) and so forth could possibly be due to the pressure of the attempts to capture the remaining wild red wolves. The capturing efforts were predominantly in Texas and Lousiana. However, a few wolves or hybrids may have been pushed into that region and found a home there. I don't know if that could ever be ascertained.
But, have a look at this photo below. I would say that one picture is worth a thousand words, but these days it could be said to be worth a thousand lies. Anyway, this "coyote" was claimed to have been killed somewhere in the northeast. When I look at it, I see very thick legs and as well as the large mass. If this photo is at all genuine, then I would tend to believe that it has to be at least some part wolf....or someone's dog.
For the complete article...
http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/red_wolf.html
