Wolf Conservation Center Blog

Wolf Conservation Center Study Finds Coastal Coyotes Preserve Red Wolf Ancestry Through Survival and Adaptation

February 11, 2026 Comments Off

Distinct body form and high survival of coastal coyotes along the Texas-Louisiana border region allow coyotes harboring red wolf ancestry to persist decades after the red wolf’s extirpation from the region. South Salem, NY — A new study led by the Wolf Conservation Center Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab and published in Ecosphere reveals how red wolf ancestry has persisted for more than four decades after the red wolf was declared extirpated from the wild. The research shows that a combination of distinctive physical traits adapted to coastal wetlands and high survival has allowed coyotes to harbor, maintain, and pass on red wolf genetics. The study focused on hybrid-like coyotes referred to as “Gulf Coast canids,” living in coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico that retained significant red wolf ancestry. Researchers found that these coastal coyotes form a stable, locally adapted wetland ecotype shaped by historical red wolf introgression…

How the Media Negatively Shapes the Narrative Around Wolves

January 30, 2026 Comments Off

It’s unconscionable and truly disappointing that our modern-day storytellers continue to vilify wolves, thereby perpetuating the myth that they are ferocious predators who actively stalk and viciously hunt humans. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, over the last hundred years in the U.S., there have been no documented human deaths attributed to wild wolves. The wolf scenes in Del Toro’s Frankenstein, which aren’t depicted in Mary Shelley’s original novel, are used as a fear-mongering tactic. These scenes are wholly unnecessary and add nothing to the story. Instead, they reinforce fears and animosity toward this remarkable keystone species, ultimately setting back the crucial efforts of those of us who work tirelessly to promote wolf recovery and conservation. I know this firsthand because it’s been the focus of my life for over twenty-five years. Such depictions are nothing new; wolves have the worst P.R. on the planet. For thousands…

West Virginia Students Inspire Community to Make a Better World for Wolves

January 26, 2026 Comments Off

In a classroom in Martinsburg, West Virginia, home of the Berkeley Heights Elementary School Badgers, the sounds of curiosity and excitement fill the air. Mrs. Kelly Gray’s Roots and Shoots students sit as a group, planning their next adventure and learning about the world around them – a world that includes wolves. With the walls of the classroom decorated like a safari, and with Mrs. Gray brining her creativity and passion, the students could be anywhere in the world. Where did they choose to be? The Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York. The Roots and Shoots program, founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, empowers youth to make the world a better place, and with Mrs. Gray at their side, the students have done just that. As a group, they explored the world around them, with curiosity and awe, and in doing so, learned of the plight of wolves. Wolves…