How does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service keep track of the wolves?
A red wolf can range anywhere from 500 acres to 46,000 acres, depending on such factors as available habitat and prey, pack size and season of the year. Each red wolf that is captured or released is outfitted with a collar containing a radio transmitter, which emits pulse signals or “beeps” that biologists can read with a radio receiver. On the ground, wildlife biologists can receive a telemetry signal from up to 1.5 miles in good conditions. Aerial telemetry allows a range of 20 miles using fixed-wing aircraft. These signals enable the biologists to track red wolf locations and activities. Monitoring of these signals can vary from twice daily to once a week, depending on specific circumstances. Since the estimated lifespan for red wolves is up to 15 years in captivity, and six or seven in the wild, their collars must be changed every few years due to battery life.
