Pilots To The Rescue transports critically endangered American Red Wolf

Pilots To The Rescue was honoured recently to once again play a vital role in a historic effort to maintain the only wild population of the critically endangered American Red Wolf in the world.

Over two days, four adult red wolves from three managed care facilities were flown to North Carolina where they were released in a protected refuge. The collaborative effort is a partnership between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Endangered Wolf Centre, Wolf Conservation Centre, & Wolf Haven International. This is the first release from managed care facilities since 1998.

Pilots To The Rescue Top Dog Pilot Michael Schneider met Wolf Conservation Centre officials in New Jersey on the morning of April 28th. There, they boarded M2236 aka Deven (pictured above), who was born in New York & affectionately named by supporters of the Wolf Conservation Centre. Deven was accompanied on the two-hour flight to North Carolina by Rebecca Bose, the Curator in charge of the well-being of all the Wolf Conservation Centre’s Ambassador & Species Survival Plan wolves.

Releasing animals is a conservation strategy that takes individual wolves bred & born in managed care & places them in their native range. Because the wild population of American red wolves is dangerously low, it is vital to place individuals of breeding age on the landscape to assist in the repopulation of the most endangered wolf species in the world. The wolves were introduced to their new home through a “soft release” process. A habitat surrounded by temporary fencing was installed & animals were placed inside to acclimate & bond. When the time is right, the fencing will be opened, allowing the red wolves to confidently enter their new home in the Wild.

This is the 3rd endangered red wolf PTTR has rescued. This one is truly historic because M2236 aka “Deven”, born at the Wolf Conservation Centre in 2018, will be released in the wild. Releases of this type require Federal court approval & only happen every few years.

The Red Wolf is the most endangered canid in the world, Before these wolves were released on April 30 & May 1 there were 10 known collared red wolves & an estimated 17-20 total red wolves in North Carolina.