Pika's Legacy
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
By Judah Jamison, Lead Animal Care Specialist & SAFE American Red Wolf Liaison Published in Wolf Tracks vol. 43, no. I Spring 2026
This winter, F2189 (Pika) made an important contribution to the survival of her species – the critically endangered American Red Wolf. Pika was recommended for breeding by the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) American Red Wolf program in 2022 and whelped two pups at Wolf Haven in May 2023. Females age out of the breeding program at 10 years old, and since Wolf Haven did not have the appropriate space for Pika, age nine, to breed again this year, the decision was made to cryopreserve her eggs.
Maintaining the genetic health of a population is vital in conservation biology. All American Red Wolves are descended from 14 founding wolves, only 12 of whose genetics are still present in the American Red Wolf population alive today. Individuals whose genes are less represented in the population have a lower mean kinship value, meaning they are less related to the overall population than average. Pika and her siblings are among those individuals with rarer genes.
Because her genes are very valuable, the SAFE program asked us to collaborate in cryopreserving Pika’s oocytes (eggs). This was not a simple task, as the genetic repository for American Red Wolves is at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. Pika underwent a pre-dawn spay procedure at Evergreen Veterinary Hospital, whose surgical staff agreed to begin their day hours earlier than usual. An animal care staff member then drove Pika’s ovaries, protected in a special container, to the airport to fly directly from Seattle to D.C. Upon arrival, the ovaries were immediately driven to a lab where 21 mature and healthy eggs were cryopreserved... 21 genetic insurance policies for this beautiful, endangered species.
The beginning of Pika's spay procedure (left) and her eggs as seen through the microscope (right)
Now that Pika is retired from the breeding program, she and her companion, M2235 (Ben), will continue to enjoy sanctuary life – howling from the top of their platform, investigating carcasses, chasing ravens, and enjoying enrichment items such as antlers, skunk scent, and berries. Pika and all the individuals of her species may never know how rare and special they are. It is up to us to remember, and do everything we can, to preserve the American Red Wolf.
For more information about Wolf Haven's American Red Wolf and Mexican wolf conservation efforts, please visit wolfhaven.org/conservation/SAFE. Updates from USFWS on the wild American Red Wolf population can be found at fws.gov/project/red-wolf-recovery-program.
