The primary reason for the red wolf's decline is habitat loss. Forests have been cleared for agriculture and urban development, leaving the red wolf with no place to live.
Hunting and Trapping
Red wolves were hunted and trapped for their fur, meat, and because they were considered a nuisance to farmers and ranchers.
Disease
Red wolves are susceptible to a number of diseases, including canine distemper, parvovirus, and rabies, due to interbreeding with domestic/feral dogs.
Hybridization
Hybridization with coyotes is a major threat to the red wolf. Coyotes are more adaptable and can survive in a wider range of habitats than red wolves. When coyotes and red wolves mate, the offspring are usually not as well-adapted to the wild as purebred red wolves.
Here are some additional factors contributing to the red wolf's extinction:
- Prey Depletion: The decline of prey species due to hunting, habitat loss, and competition from other predators reduced the availability of food for red wolves.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Negative interactions with humans, such as livestock predation and fear-based persecution, further contributed to their population decline.