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To Work With Red Wolves

Submitted by Mark Dragon from Graham, NC on May 12, 2004

Sarah Krueger, Red Wolf Recovery Program Outreach Coordinator, talks about the wolves at Alligator River and the wolves in her life.

Questions and Answers

Question #1.
How Many wolves does your refuge contain?
Answer:
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is currently home to three packs of wild red wolves, totaling seven red wolf adults plus this year's puppies. Across the red wolf recovery area there are about 25 packs, containing approximately 100 mature red wolves plus their newly born puppies.

Question #2.
In what way do you feel your connected to wolves?
Answer:
Personally, I feel that the efforts to restore red wolves to a portion of their former range is a challenge to humanity to renew a balance that we have destroyed. Our success proves that conservation is not a lost cause and that people can coexist with large predators.

Question #3.
Has the Red wolf population increased since the refuge's existence?
Answer:
Yes. We have seen the wolf population increase slowly but steadily since the first four pairs of red wolves were released in 1987.

Question #4.
What is your goal?
Answer:
The goal of the red wolf recovery program is to restore at least two healthy populations of red wolves to the wild within the historical range of the species. No decision has been made regarding where to put a second population.

Question #5.
Why is it important to repopulate Red wolves?
Answer:
Without human intervention, the red wolf would have become extinct. By reintroducing red wolves to the wild, we are aiding the recovery of an extremely endangered animal and restoring a vital link to the ecosystem of northeastern North Carolina.

Question #6.
What percent of wolf pups grow up healthy?
Answer:
Approximately 50% of red wolf puppies survive their first year.

Question #7.
Do wolves play an important role in your life?
Answer:
Red wolves have become much more than "part of my job." The more I learn about and participate in the conservation of these amazing animals, the more passionate I am about their recovery.

Question #8.
How much do you get paid on average?
Answer:
I worked for six months as a volunteer intern and was paid $90 a week and provided with a place to live. Currently, I get paid approximately $13 an hour. Wildlife biologists can be paid up to $80,000 per year in an office job, but less if they are working in the field doing the most fun work.

Question #9.
What are the requirements or how could I get a job at Alligator River Wildlife Refuge?
Answer:
It depends on what kind of job you would like to have. If you would like to be a biologist, you will need to study wildlife biology and management. If you are interested in environmental education and interpretation, there are several degree programs which specialize in these fields. There are also opportunities to become a maintenance worker or heavy equipment operator on a refuge. The best recommendation I have for anyone who is interested in working for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is to volunteer and apply for internships in addition to pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree.


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