Red Wolf By: Logan Weber

Physical Features Color will vary from brown-red dark gray, tan, or black with red tinge Weighs between lbs 4 to 5 feet from base of the tail to the tip of the nose It’s morphologically mid way between gray wolves and coyotes.

Characteristics Lifespan is between 6-7years in wild, 15 years in captivity 3 rd level consumer Pups stay with their parents until the reach maturity at 2 years of age Mate for life Able to reproduce at 2 years old 1 liter contains about 5 pups Didn’t adapt well, they adapted by breeding with coyotes which led to endangerment

Threats/ Predators Has no predators Will compete for prey with coyotes, bobcats, and black bears Hybridization is their biggest threat Human threats include hunters, vehicles, and habitat loss to buildings

Diet Rabbits and rodents (prior to being extinct in wild) White-tailed deer that are older or sick, raccoon, rabbits, and nutria Eat 2-5 lbs a day Usually hunt alone or in pairs Will travel up to 20 miles a day in search of food

Statistics There are only red wolves at present Captive breeding brought red wolves back into the wild Critically endangered

Habitat/Factors Habitat -Forest -Wetland mosaics Live in eastern North Carolina Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors -Grass -water -Trees -sunlight -Rabbits -soil -Coyotes -temperature -Bears -Deer -Nutria Limiting factors -Food -Water -Shelter

Why is it a Butterfly Species? Why is the Red Wolf a butterfly species? The Red Wolf is a butterfly species because if it became extinct there would be a big increase in its prey population. For example the Red wolf hunt sick and older deer, if this hunt were to stop the number of deer would increase but with the same amount of resources to be shared. This would cause the population suffer from limited resources.

Bibliography N.p.. Web. 30 Jan N.p.. Web. 30 Jan N.p.. Web. 30 Jan N.p.. Web. 31 Jan 2013.