The red wolf is one of two species of wolves in North America, along with the gray wolf (Canis lupus), and is the only wolf with a home range entirely within the US borders. As their name suggests, red wolves are known for the characteristic reddish color of their fur most apparent behind the ears and along the neck and legs but are mostly brown and buff colored with some black along their backs. The average adult red wolf weighs 50-80 pounds, stands about 26 inches at the shoulder, and is about 4-5 feet long from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.

Red wolves are social animals that live in packs consisting of a breeding adult pair and their offspring. Red wolves prey on a variety of wild mammals such as raccoons, rabbits, white-tailed deer, nutria, and other rodents. Most active at dusk and dawn, red wolves are elusive and generally avoid humans.

Red wolves are protected as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act and are classified as "critically endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. As of June 2024, there are currently 17 known to remain in the wild in North Carolina.