- Red Wolf Center
The Red Wolf Center is located in Columbia, NC on Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to providing space to conduct regular health checks on the wolves, the center has a small reception area for the public and an established viewing area for a pair of captive red wolves.
Red Wolf Programs are offered with staffing availability. See the calendar below for current program schedules.
Program scheduleYou can also call 252-796-3004 to find out when red wolf programs are offered.
Red wolves are the most endangered wolf in North America. Learn more about the Red Wolf Recovery Program.
About the Center
The Red Wolf Center, located one mile south of Columbia, NC on NC Highway 94, was constructed in 2007. The fence enclosures behind the Center were constructed in 2012 using funds secured by the Red Wolf Coalition, a refuge partner. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held that year with guest of honor Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr.
The building is divided into two sections. The health care side is equipped to help Service biologists to safely handle wolves needing medical treatment. The education side houses exhibits and educational material about red wolves. The fence enclosures behind the building are used to temporarily hold wolves receiving health checks or care and to permanently house a pair of exhibit wolves. Seating has been installed just outside the exhibit enclosure. All of the fence enclosures are surrounded by another, perimeter fence to ensure the safety of the captive animals and help prevent animals from escaping.
Exhibit wolves cannot be released in to the wild due to injury or other reason. Red wolves normally shy away from people, and sometimes the exhibit wolves like to hide in the den or at the rear of the enclosure. Since the Red Wolf Center is now their home, please understand that we do not disturb the exhibit wolves to make them more visible for viewing.
Next steps for the Center include developing interactive exhibits to more thoroughly tell the story of world's most endangered wolf.
Driving DirectionsThe Red Wolf Center, is located 1 mile south of Columbia, NC on Highway 94. The Center is on the east side of the road (on your left as you approach from Columbia). Apple Maps has an incorrect location for the Center--please use written directions or a different navigation app to find the Center.
