The Red Wolves of the Southeast

There once was a wolf that lived in the SE United States, from Texas to Florida and up the coast to Maryland. The red wolf’s turf ended there, where the gray wolves reigned, but the big grays are long gone from that turf as well. There were other big predators in the SE–the panther for one, and the black bear, both of which still survive in certain SE wilderness areas thanks to rigorous conservation efforts, but are by no means widespread. The American alligator, of course, is the only remaining predator in the SE that is thriving. But barring the local indigenous human population, the red wolf (canis rufus) of yesteryear was the apex predator.

These  warmer latitudes kept the red wolf from evolving the distinguishing thick neck scruff of the northern gray wolf (canis lupus. Also called timber wolf). The red wolf is smaller than its northern cousin, as well. But like other species’ of wolf, the southern red wolf was a pack hunter, which gave it a natural advantage over other solitary predators.

Red wolves were, and are, naturally shy of humans, as most canids are, but the crafty humans ultimately poisoned, shot, trapped and killed them all off just like they did the passenger pigeon and the American bison. And, as is usual when humankind interferes with nature, the mass killing of the apex predator in these parts backfired.

Coyotes are natural enemies of all wolves, and their presence is not tolerated in wolf territory. Thus, when the red wolves were effectively extirpated, in moved the coyote from the west, and now, rather than a manageable pack-mentality red wolf to contend with, the South is infested with coyotes and white-tailed deer. It’s worth pointing out that deer populations have exploded in recent years. Human hunters only want to hunt trophy bucks, the healthiest and strongest of the herd, whereas wolves managed the herd by culling the weak, the sick and diseased and the old, thereby maintaining–even increasing–the overall strength of the herd. And now the herd is nearing the breaking point where it will become necessary, for the overall health of the herd, to begin to systematically destroy the animals to the benefit of no one and nothing.

Coyotes can and will eat deer, but generally only the very young. Coyotes are more likely to scavenge for food or eat small game such as rabbits and mice. So, by removing the wolf, the ecosystem, once balanced, was sent tottering hard off kilter. It’s the usual story, it’s the same story that’s being told today as well as in the past, just like a person who farms chickens will shoot a hawk to keep it from eating a chicken, we will destroy to ward off the possibilities rather than try or attempt to live in harmony with nature. Man has never been good at living in harmony with nature though, and likely never will be. Nature is too dangerous an element for humanity to thrive in, which is fine, if only we could keep from expanding.

The wilderness areas of the South are pocked with development now like the scarified face of a teenager with bad acne. Roads slice through national forests and wildlife management areas for the sake of convenience. Suburban sprawl has expanded and is still expanding, encroaching into realms where nature would thrive if only we could leave it alone. We are spreading like a virus, and we’re eating up nature as we do.

So. We’ve eliminated the threat of the dreaded wolf and found it replaced by a nuisance animal. And we’ve effectively eliminated any hope of reintroduction because we’ve removed all of the wild areas. Our woods are not wildernesses any longer, they are just patches of trees interspersed with development. The stink of man is strong in the South, and as caretakers of the ecosystem we have failed miserably, to the point where there is no hope of a thriving natural ecosystem, no potential, no possibility, nowhere east of the Mississippi, at least.

And what have we gained? What immeasurable wealth has all this development endowed us with? It’s left the carcasses of strip malls and trailer parks and butler buildings and uninspired architecture and poverty and filth. And we have no one to blame but ourselves, our leaders who failed. The South could have been something wonderful, but we killed the wolf, and now it’s barren. Destitute.