🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Red wolf pups are typically born in spring and remain in dens during early development.
Red wolves typically produce one litter per year, averaging between two and eight pups. In small populations, juvenile survival rates strongly influence overall trajectory. If an entire litter fails due to flooding, disease, or pack disruption, annual recruitment drops sharply. Unlike large carnivore populations with multiple breeding packs, red wolves have limited redundancy. Each breeding pair carries demographic weight. Monitoring programs track pup survival closely during the first year. Recruitment variability magnifies extinction risk.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Low pup survival reduces effective population size and future breeding options. Pack stability directly affects juvenile development. Management interventions such as cross-fostering attempt to buffer losses. Statistical modeling incorporates recruitment rates into viability forecasts. Demographic sensitivity increases as numbers decline.
A single failed breeding season can ripple across years in such a small population. Generational turnover is compressed into narrow margins. The red wolf’s survival depends on consistent juvenile success. Extinction probability rises when variability persists. Demography becomes destiny.
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