Red wolves exist in only one place in the wild*, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on North Carolina’s Albemarle Peninsula. The densely vegetated refuge is perfect for red wolves: full of prey and practically devoid of people. Perfect, except it may all be underwater soon.

Smithsonian Magazine explains why ignoring rising seas is not an option for red wolves. Coastal North Carolina is more vulnerable than almost anywhere else in the United States to sea-level rise associated with climate change, and the 154,000-acre Alligator River refuge could be one of the first areas to go under.

*2 wild red wolves also exist on island propagation site at St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. One of the red wolves, M1804, was born at the Wolf Conservation Center!