Feeding Periods Drive Increased Social Behavior In Managed Red Wolves (Canis rufus)

Red wolves (Canis rufus) are a critically endangered species that rely on captive breeding and release programs to sustain remaining wild populations. Feeding events can significantly influence social dynamics in group-living carnivores, and understanding how food presentation shapes these interactions can inform captive management strategies. This study examined whether feeding context (pre-feeding vs during feeding) and food type (whole prey vs processed diet) influenced agonistic and affiliative behaviors in managed red wolves at ZooTampa in Tampa, Florida. All-occurrence sampling was used to record social behaviors of a female red wolf pack (n = 5) before and during feeding. Agonistic and affiliative behaviors increased significantly during feeding compared to pre-feeding (p < 0.001). Affiliative behavior was significantly higher in the whole-prey condition (p = 0.022), while agonistic behavior did not differ by food type (p = 0.191). Social behaviors also varied across feeding intervals, with a significant peak in agonistic behavior at 15–20 minutes in the whole-prey condition (p = 0.001), indicating delayed competition over resources. These findings suggest that feeding events drive both competitive and cooperative interactions, while food presentation influences the timing and structure of social behavior. Understanding these dynamics can inform feeding strategies that support captive management and conservation efforts for red wolves. 

For more information: email sfnocera@eckerd.edu