Got deer? The red wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center certainly do, and their gut biomes say “thank you!”

A new study by Bragg et al., published in Frontiers in Microbiology, indicates that diet has an impact on the gut microbiome of red wolves. Researchers analyzed stool samples of captive red wolves (including red wolf Tyke from the WCC!) and compared them to their wild counterparts to assess the impact of diet on gut health. Would, for example, feeding a captive red wolf kibble best prepare them for a wild life?

The results indicate that kibble-based diets are linked to the most distinct gut microbiome – these meals are high in starch and should be reconsidered to include whole meat, to better match the prey sources of wild red wolves.

Watch A Webinar with Lead Researcher Morgan Bragg, MS

On May 28, 2020, the Wolf Conservation Center hosted Morgan Bragg to learn how diet impacts the gut bacteria community in red wolves, and why it is important to keep the captive red wolf gut as “wild” as possible.