July 10, 2026

The Red Wolf pups are now more than two months old, so let’s take a look back at their two most recent veterinary check-ups, starting with some ID photos.

Here they are at the beginning of June:

And here they are at the end of June:

Honestly, quite a bit of difference just a few weeks makes! All five pups have pointed ears now and are starting to get that long-legged, lanky look that all young Red Wolves have at this stage.

You can see from the above photo that, though they still await their “names,” everyone now has studbook numbers.

• Pup #1: 2757M
• Pup #2: 2758M
• Pup #3: 2759M
• Pup #4: 2760F
• Pup #5: 2761F

Zooming in on the early-June physical. During the exams, our vet team found that two of the pups (2758M and 2759M) showed signs of swelling on their chins and necks, and swiftly determined whether the cause of the swelling was an abscess. The good news, neither was an abscess! The bad news, they were likely bug bites that resulted in major reactions.

A quick treatment was administered, and neither pup has since shown further signs of swelling! You can see lack of swelling in the second set of ID photos (they’re the second and third pups in the lineup).

As is the case in each pup check, Dr. Tara Harrison works alongside her NC State Veterinary students and the Museum’s Animal Care Team to give the litter physical work-ups, looking specifically for external injuries and internal abnormalities.

The pups’ teeth, ears, and eyes pass with flying colors.

But occasionally they find an issue, and it is documented and treated if necessary. For example, the aforementioned swelling, or this old wound:

The staff also give rounds of dewormer, which is banana flavored…  

… and, now that they’re old enough, routine vaccines, which are not at all banana flavored.

Microchips are another thing they’re old enough to receive, and placement is as simple as any vaccine, though the needle is a liiiittle bigger.

Then the placed chips are scanned to confirm operation, and they’re done!

The pups are returned to the den only about half an hour from the time they were pulled and mom Carolina (2293F) comes to check on them after a while. Things go right back to Red Wolf business as usual. Explore the Wild is open to visitors during regular Museum hours — please drop by and take in their playful puppiness! As is the same with all previous litters, recommendations for the family’s future will be made at this summer’s Red Wolf SAFE planning meeting, so stay tuned for more from the Red Wolf habitat.

Looking for a way to make a difference? Support the Museum and our efforts toward Red Wolf conservation by donating to the Annual Fund today!