* No reliable population estimates: There were no systematic population counts before red wolves were declared endangered.
* Declining population for centuries: Red wolves were already facing significant decline due to habitat loss, hunting, and persecution before official records began.
* Range reduction: Their historical range was vast, spanning across the southeastern United States. By the time they were listed as endangered in 1967, their range was drastically reduced.
What we do know:
* Historical accounts: Native American tribes and early European settlers described red wolves as being common in the southeastern U.S.
* Extinction in the wild: By the 1970s, red wolves were considered extinct in the wild.
* Reintroduction program: A captive breeding and reintroduction program began in the 1980s, and this has helped increase the population of red wolves, but they remain highly endangered.
The point is: The red wolf population was severely depleted long before they were officially recognized as endangered. There's no way to know for sure how many red wolves existed before their decline.