What does a red wolf eat?
A typical red wolf’s diet is about 50% deer, 30% raccoon, 10% rabbits, and 10% rodents. In general, we think wild wolves eat an average of about 5 pounds of food per day. However, we know of at least one case where a wild wolf ate 12 pounds of meat in one meal! We also know that red wolf pups begin to hunt insects and small mammals on their own (with other pack members close by) as early as 3 months of age. However, non-mammalian prey such as insects, fish, eggs, and birds are not major food items for the red wolf, but given that they are opportunistic feeders, they eat what is available. This may also include some plant material, such as grasses, berries, and fruits. Non-mammalian prey and plant material do not represent regular, significant food sources for the red wolves.
