This morning, I decide to go and scout the J Morgan Futch Waterfowl Impoundments, out near Alligator. Driving around in the early morning can be grog-inducing, but not around here...my encounters with all types of wildlife have reduced me and my speed to cautious levels of travel velocity. I have seen loads of deer, some bear, a coyote, and this morning a Red Wolf.
The Red Wolf used to be all over the South. Ranging from Texas in the west all the way to the coast and as far north as New York, the Red Wolf was an apex predator. Red Wolves aren't like other canids in the wild. They don't really hunt in packs. They are also a little smaller than the gray wolf, and also lack the gray wolfs fluffy coat. The Red Wolf's ears a little bigger, too. This help the red wolf dissipate hot North Carolina heat.
Killed to virtual extinction, there are less than 300 in the wild...with 95% of them being right here in Tyrrell, Hyde, and Dare Counties. They were reintro'ed back in 1987 at the Alligator River NWR...and several other places, including the Smokies...yet most were eventually captured and "re-reintroduced" in our area. While not thriving, they are spreading out a little. At some point, some have had to actually cross the Alligator River, which is the border between Dare and Tyrrell County. Dogs can swim, but the Allligator is 4 miles wide in places, but it is reduced to a trick around Kilkenny. All of the other Red Wolves I have seen were in Tyrrell County. So the swim must not be bad...
People often confuse the red wolf with a coyote...Coyotes can't exist where a population of other larger dogs has staked a claim...and coyotes are a little to lazy to peruse the pocosin for prey. Coyotes will scavenge road kill, though. Folks tell me I'm not seeing red wolves - they argue that its a coyote. Here's how I know...
I grew up in Alabama...if there are three things I can recognize immediately they are: Barbecue, Coyotes, and Armadillos. A coyote has a slightly narrower snout - they also have "pointy" head shape, where a wolf would have a more square jaw...kinda like Brad Pitt. Also, unless the Federal researchers have started radio-collaring coyotes, I am pretty sure I am only seeing red wolves.
So, how did I encounter this specimen...On Bay Post Office Road and the intersection of Raccoon Road, sat a wild red wolf, defficating on the double yellow. It's a sharp turn, so I didn't see him until nearly tooooo late. My Jeeps bumper was on the brink of extirpation, as was this rare dog. Luckily, he pardoned my jeep, but the double yellow line now has some endangered feces. He was lucky...so was my Jeep, but so was I for being able to interrupt one of the rarest predators in the world, in his time of privacy...
This weekend we have "Envirothon"...they will be here throughout the weekend - I am sure I'll be "on call", so I'll be around. It's also the final weekend of the North Carolina waterfowl season. Youth Day is February 6, and despite my short stature, I would not pass for a 15 year old. I'll be taking a buddy though - it's his first duck hunt...and if you can take someone on youth waterfowl day, yo ushould...if you need some advice on where to go, I can also help you with that...
Enjoy the day...
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