The only good red wolf is a dead one!
The most thorough genetic studies show that red wolves are a mythological creature, created out of the overactive imaginations of scientists who should know better.
Do they accept that this animal isn’t what it has been billed to be?
Hell, no.
Their refusal to understand that some genetic studies are better than others shows that they are not immune to wanting to believe crap, even when the evidence doesn’t support their position.
If scientists can’t accept the reality that this animal isn’t an ancient wolf species but is instead a recent hybrid between wolves and coyotes, there really isn’t much hope for saving any species.
So let’s waste more money on this coyote and let the Mexican wolf go extinct!
Natural History 
“they are not immune to wanting to believe crap, even when the evidence doesn’t support their position” — that would appear to be the case for most humans — that once one has “invested” in a given idea or “fact”, it is much harder to get that person to accept evidence (however good) to the contrary and very easy to get them to accept evidence (however questionable) in it’s support. And this appears to be the case on just about any issue. There really may have been a “canis niger” subspecies in the East areas (fossil DNA might show that or refute it), but it was probably extinct by the 1580s and “canis rufus” is just wishful thinking. But since it justifies a lot of folk’s views on conservation, and is politically valuable, acceptance of the facts aren’t going to happen easily.
What’s sad is the extermination of what appeared to be clearly Mexican wolves in captivity in the name of “purity” based pretty much on the same mind set as those who conversely were arguing on behalf of the red wolf, and those who would ban “exotics” despite the success of Texan game farms in preserving some of the rare antelope. “if humans do it, it must be wrong” attitude.
I’d say that Canis lupus niger lasted a bit longer than that, but it’s been extinct since at least the beginning of the twentieth century.
Lots of time and money have been put into “red wolf recovery.” It is an often touted success story of the ESA, but it’s actually one of its biggest failures. Not only is the “species” in question not likely a species at all, but it has to be managed by trapping out all the coyotes that appear in its range. And the remaining stock was founded by only 14 red wolves from East Texas and Louisiana, and already, there is evidence of an inbreeding depression in the population. Litter sizes are getting smaller.
Nothing wrong with crossbreeding whether it’s us, our dogs or all those crossbred wolves out there. Rejopice in the fact as arguably the crossbreds of tyhis world are the healthiest anyway, so they tell us. My wife is Welsh and I am English so great, we are happy to be a little bit within the mixed genome club.
I believe that the photo of “Canis niger” that appears in Riddle’s “The Wild Dogs in Life and Legend” was shot in the 1930s.
I can’t believe you hate wolves. They’re so beautiful. I say keep them alive.
Not read the blog much, have you?
I am FAR from a wolf hater.
This is where you can’t assume people follow your blog. LOL.
This is also where I shouldn’t approve comments of people who wish to do drive-bys.
Reading comprehension is not a skill familiar to this type of person.
I think shooting wolves is stupid because is killing them thanking them for the wonderful gift they gave us, dogs. I’d think you’d give man’s best friends ancestors a bit more respect, you being a hunter or not. I think it’s very dis respectful of them. They are so beautiful.
Again, someone who has obviously not read this blog.
Red wolves are neither gray wolves nor coyotes. They are a separate species and this has been confirmed through genetics testing time and time again. They have different behavioral qualities from both of them, and look different. Many species are on a gradient, but it does not mean they are all the same species. The Red Wolf Recovery Program uses genetics to distinguish red wolves and coyotes, since the juvenile red wolves may look like adult coyotes, and this would not be possible if red wolves, as you said were “genetically coyotes”. Hybridization of species is not necessarily bad, per se, but I think if all species begin to hybridize, we’ll end up with a really boring world and lose much of our biodiversity, ending up with a few hardy species. Save the red wolves, and keep a unique canid in this world.
You are simply wrong:
1. http://retrieverman.net/2011/05/21/the-creature-formerly-known-as-the-red-wolf/
2. http://retrieverman.net/2011/05/24/no-unique-eastern-wolf-species/
3. http://retrieverman.net/2012/05/08/americas-park-coyote/
4. http://retrieverman.net/2012/05/01/the-dubious-red-wolf/
You didn’t think I had facts on my side, so you tried to make an argument from authority.
I am for saving wolves, but not bullcrap species that are actually not species at all.
If you think this is a Republican-loving, climate change denying, kill ’em all before they kill you blog, you are sorely mistaken.
Most of this stuff has been debunk through genomic sampling.