North Carolina is not currently home to wild grey wolves. These large canids were extirpated from the state decades ago. Any wild wolf species found in North Carolina today would be the distinct red wolf, which has its own unique history and conservation story.
Current Status of Grey Wolves in North Carolina
Grey wolves are not found in the wild in North Carolina. Their absence resulted from historical eradication efforts that led to their complete disappearance from the state’s natural landscapes. The last official record of a grey wolf in North Carolina dates back to the late 19th century.
Historical Presence and Decline
Historically, grey wolves, also known as timber wolves, once roamed across much of North America, including parts of the southeastern United States. Their range extended through the mountains and potentially other areas of North Carolina. These wolves were significant predators within their ecosystems, playing a role in maintaining the health of prey populations.
The decline of the grey wolf population in North Carolina and across the contiguous United States was largely driven by human activity. Settlers engaged in extensive hunting, trapping, and poisoning campaigns, often motivated by fear and a desire to protect livestock. Habitat loss and fragmentation further contributed to their disappearance. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, grey wolves were effectively eliminated from North Carolina.
Distinguishing Red Wolves
North Carolina is the only place in the world where a wild population of red wolves exists. Red wolves (Canis rufus) are a distinct species, intermediate in size between the larger grey wolf and the smaller coyote. An adult red wolf typically measures 136–165 cm in length, including its tail, and weighs between 20 and 39 kg.
Their fur typically displays a reddish-tawny color, often with a mix of grey and tan, particularly noticeable on the back of their legs and ears. In contrast, grey wolves are generally larger, weighing 18 to 79 kg, and their coats vary from white to grizzled grey, brown, or black. Red wolves also possess proportionately larger ears and a narrower skull compared to grey wolves. Despite some historical debate regarding their taxonomic classification, the current scientific consensus recognizes the red wolf as a unique species.
Conservation Efforts in North Carolina
Conservation efforts in North Carolina focus on the critically endangered red wolf. The red wolf reintroduction program, initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1987, was a pioneering effort to restore a large carnivore to the wild. This program began with the release of captive-bred red wolves into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Albemarle Peninsula in northeastern North Carolina, following the species being declared extinct in the wild in 1980.
The program has faced challenges, including habitat fragmentation, disease, and human-caused mortality, particularly from gunshots and vehicle strikes. Hybridization with coyotes also presents a concern, requiring management strategies like coyote sterilization to maintain the genetic integrity of the red wolf population. The USFWS and conservation groups continue to work towards red wolf recovery, with recent efforts including the release of new breeding pairs and the birth of wild litters. As of August 2025, the wild red wolf population in eastern North Carolina is estimated to be between 28 and 31 individuals, supplemented by approximately 280 red wolves in captive breeding facilities across the country.