Tallahassee Museum Announces Birth of Red Wolf Puppies

The Tallahassee Museum announced Thursday the birth of a new litter of red wolves, an endangered species.

Early in the morning of April 26, 2024, Arrow, a 4-year-old female, gave birth to two healthy cubs, 1 male and 1 female.

This is Arrow and Rainier’s first litter of puppies. Rainier was born to the Tallahassee museum’s last litter of puppies in 2017.

This is the fourth litter of red wolf pups born at the Tallahassee museum since 1988.

The Tallahassee Museum Animal Department and attending veterinary team monitored the growth and health of the pups during this time through the use of den cameras to reduce human interaction. Following their most recent examination, Dr. Manuel from Forgotten Coast Animal Hospital said the puppies were healthy and developing well.

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Mimicking their wild counterparts, red wolf parents keep their pups well protected in the den. Therefore, puppies are generally not visible to the public for two to three months after birth.

The public is invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit the Tallahassee Museum throughout the summer and fall months and witness the remarkable journey of these red wolf pups as they mature into young adults.

The Tallahassee Museum has played a key role in the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan, now the U.S. Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) Project, since 1988, following the alarming decline of wild red wolves. At the time, fewer than 20 red wolves lived in the wild and were declared biologically extinct. This drastic population decline was mainly due to hunting and habitat loss.

The Tallahassee museum was one of the first national sites to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a captive breeding program to restore the red wolf population in the wild.

As a partner in the U.S. Red Wolf SAFE Project, the Museum works to minimize human contact with red wolves to promote avoidance behaviors and support healthy pack structure in preparation for their eventual release into the wild . Red wolves are the most endangered dogs in the world, with fewer than 250 individuals on earth.