RED WOLVES TO BE FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER AT WILDLIFE PARK
-- Species Survival Plan’s mission to breed Red wolves
for introduction back into the wild -Guest article by
Susan Strawbridge, Park Services Specialist
Red Wolf Jester by Joe Dube
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park will be highlighting Red wolves
during the month of November. Special events and exhibits are planned on the
endangered Red wolves in the park’s Visitor Center and in the Discovery Center.
The Red wolf (Canis rufus) is one of the world’s most endangered canids. Red wolves
are native to North America and once ranged throughout the Southeast United States
including Florida. The Red wolf was designated as an endangered species in 1967. Due
to loss of habitat and human-caused mortalities the Red wolf population nearly vanished
when a managed breeding program was started at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in
1973. The goal was to conserve the remaining Red wolves and increase their numbers.
As a result of the success of these breeding programs, this species was reintroduced in
the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina in 1987.
Today an estimated 50 to 75 Red wolves roam their native habitats in eastern North
Carolina, and nearly 200 Red wolves are maintained in captive breeding facilities
throughout the United States.
Red wolves weigh from 45 to 80 pounds, average about five feet in length from nose to
tail, and stand roughly 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Red wolves are smaller than Gray
wolves but larger than Coyotes. Red wolves are reddish-brown and buff-colored with
black along their backs.
Today Red wolves inhabit a five-county area in Northeastern North Carolina. Ellie
Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a partner in the Red Wolf Species
Survival Plan Program (SSP). The Park currently has two Red wolves in a natural
habitat along the Wildlife Walk. These wolves are a male named Jester and a female
named April and are part of the breeding program.
The Park will present two special programs on Red wolves in November. The first will
be on Thurs., Nov. 19, 2015. Wildlife Care Supervisor Tricia Fowler and Park Services
Specialist Andrea Junkunc will offer a program on The Endangered Red wolves. The
program starting at 1:00 pm in the Florida Room of the Visitor Center located on US 19
will explore the role of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park in the Red
Wolf Species Survival Plan Program and how we work with other agencies to help
manage the Red wolf population by breeding and re-introducing Red wolves back into
the wild. There is no charge to attend this program. Admission does apply for entry into
the Wildlife Park.
A Wildlife Jeopardy program on Red Wolves will take place in the park’s Discovery
Center on Sat., Nov. 21, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. Park volunteer Barbara
Cairns will use a 20-question format and invites visitors, old and young alike, to test
their knowledge about Red wolves and their cousins the Gray wolves and Coyotes. Her
goal is to have each person learn at least one new thing about Red wolves. Hand-outs
will be provided. Park admission applies.
Displays on Red wolves will be on exhibit in the Park's Visitor Center on US 19 and in
the Discovery Center throughout the month. Special activities on this species will also
be available all month in the Discovery Center.
In other news at the Park, the Citrus Watercolor Club will be holding its Fall Show and
Sale in the Visitor Center on U.S. 19 on Sat., Nov. 7 and Sun., Nov. 8, 2015. The club’s
150-plus members will be exhibiting original watercolors, prints. The Citrus Watercolor
Club invites you to start your holiday shopping early. There is no charge to attend the
show and sale. Twenty-percent of all sales are donated to the Friends of Homosassa
Springs Wildlife Park, Inc. or park projects and improvements.
The Discovery Center will reopen in November after undergoing restoration on this
historic building. The building was the original entrance to Nature’s Giant Fish Bowl and
was built in the 1940s. Today, the Discovery Center offers a Springs Time Line
interpretive display and hands-on activities in addition to displays on our monthly
themes.
The Wildlife Puppeteers will present a puppet show on Sat., Nov. 14, 2015, starting at
2:00 pm. In the Discovery Center. The puppet show is entitled “Helping or Not Helping?”
and explores different situations in which you may need to decide whether wildlife
needs our help or not.
November’s monthly bird walk on Pepper Creek Trail is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 28,
2015. Experienced and novice birders are welcome to join the bird walk led by an
experienced birder from Citrus County Audubon Society. Participants should meet at
7:45 am by the flagpole at the entrance to the Visitor Center on US 19. The walk starts
promptly at 8:00 a.m. There is no charge to participate in the bird walk. To register for
the bird walk, please call (352) 628-5445, ext. 1002.
As you can see, we have a lot planned for November, and we encourage you to visit
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to learn about the importance of
preserving Red wolves. For more information on these events and exhibits, please call
Susan Strawbridge at (352) 628-5445, ext. 1002.