. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. in captivity and released in Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Since their release at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987, the population has fanned out to Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding lands accessed through agreement with land owners. These lands have witnessed the rebirth of the species, with 106 pups born in the wild by the end of last year. "We couldn't ask for any more from the wolves — they're doing gr
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. in captivity and released in Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Since their release at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987, the population has fanned out to Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding lands accessed through agreement with land owners. These lands have witnessed the rebirth of the species, with 106 pups born in the wild by the end of last year. "We couldn't ask for any more from the wolves — they're doing great," says Michael Morse, wildlife biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Program at the Alligator River refuge. Even as the wolf population grows, people are seeing less and less of the creatures as they revert to their natural shyness. Wary of humans, red wolves are considered social animals because they live in an extended family group. Born around May 1 with their eyes and ears closed, they are totally dependent on their mothers while nursing. At that tender age, they are constantly watched by a father, mother or other yearling. By about six months, the pups start to explore their family's range — anywhere from 10,000 to 60,000 acres — and practice hunting, but remain dependent on their parents for food. Their sheltered existence comes to an end at 18 to 20 months of age, when they are dispersed by breeding adults that shun their offspring upon sexual maturity. Banished, many die as they struggle to feed themselves and find their own ranges. Like the red wolf, the river otter pup can look forward to a sheltered infant sojourn, which is spent with its mother since males usually disappear after breeding. Only 4 to 5 inches long at birth,. Courtesy of the United States Marine Corps river otters are fully furred and look like tiny replicas of their parents, except for being blind and helpless. Their den might be a hollow tree or an old muskrat or
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
