New wild litter of Red Wolf pups confirmed in Alligator River Refuge
From The Outer Banks Voice:
On April 18, the Red Wolf Recovery Program confirmed the birth of a wild litter of Red Wolf pups in the Milltail area of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. While this is the third year in a row for a litter in that area, it was far from a given that it would occur this year after the tragic loss of 2323 (the previous breeding male in the Milltail family group) in September 2023.
In a bold attempt to create a new breeding pair, an acclimation pen was quickly constructed in October 2023 within the home range of the resident wild adult female Red Wolf (2225) who birthed the previous two litters. A male Red Wolf (2191), born at Wolf Haven International in Tenino, Washington as part of the Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program, was then placed in it. His release from the pen in late January 2024 was purposefully timed with the breeding season and he and 2225 soon appeared to become a pair.
