Survival and population size estimates of the red wolf

• Published in: The Journal of Wildlife Management
• Main Authors: Hinton, Joseph W., White, Gary C., Rabon, David R., Chamberlain, Michael J.
• Other Authors: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21206; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjwmg.21206; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jwmg.21206

ABSTRACT Evaluating anthropogenic mortality is important to develop conservation strategies for red wolf ( Canis lupus ) recovery. We used 26 years of population data in a generalized linear mixed model to examine trends in cause‐specific mortality and a known‐fate model in Program MARK to estimate survival rates for the reintroduced red wolf population in North Carolina, USA. We found the proportion of mortality attributable to anthropogenic causes, specifically mortality caused by gunshot during fall and winter hunting seasons (Oct–Dec), increased significantly since 2000 and became the leading cause of red wolf death. Mortality rates were greatest for red wolves <4 years of age, and we suspect inexperience with human activities (e.g., hunting) likely caused younger wolves to be more susceptible to opportunistic killing by hunters. Since 1987, the red wolf population steadily grew and peaked at an estimated 151 individuals during 2005 but declined to 45–60 by 2016. To reduce the negative effects of anthropogenic mortality and ensure long‐term persistence of red wolves, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will need to re‐implement previous long‐standing and proven management practices (e.g., Red Wolf Adaptive Management Plan) on public and private lands and cease issuing take permits. The USFWS will also need to establish an effective management response to mitigate gunshot mortality through stronger regulation of coyote ( Canis latrans ) hunting and provide adequate ecologically and biologically supported regulatory mechanisms to protect red wolves. Finally, the USFWS should enhance recovery by providing information and education about red wolves to hunters and the general public. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.