Red wolves once widely roamed across most of the eastern United States, living in wetlands, temperate forests, and coastal prairies. Today, just 18 are known to remain in the wild.
How was this uniquely North American wolf pushed to the brink of extinction, and how will they be saved?
On September 16, 2025, the Wolf Conservation Center hosted a webinar to learn about the history, plight, and future of red wolves. Dr. Joey Hinton, the Center’s Senior Research Scientist, and Regan Downey, the Center’s Director of Education and Advocacy, detailed the intense persecution that led to the near extinction of red wolves, legislative and collaborative efforts that successfully reintroduced them back into the wild, the challenges they face currently, and plans to recover them within their historical range. Engage in this conversation exploring the world's most endangered wolf and how collaborative efforts can offer a path to their survival.