The overarching goal of the CDRCP is to learn what is necessary about the wild living Carolina Dog in order to preserve its presence in the lowlands of the Southeast United States. This will be accomplished by studying wild populations through naturalistic observation, the capture and containment of wild specimens, and DNA analysis.
Short Term Goals
- Locate several wild populations and study their behavior and ecology
- Capture and contain wild specimens
- Capture and re-release wild specimens after attaching tracking devices to study territory management.
- Create a short-term captive breeding program
- Construct a Carolina Dog ethogram for comparative analysis to other wild canid
Long Term Goals
- DNA analysis and comparison to other canids (Australian Dingo, North American Wolf, Coyote, New Guinea Singing Dog, and the Domestic Dog)
- Evaluate their current taxonomic status (Canis Familiaris)
- Examine their origin and the current migration hypothesis with new archeological findings
At current, we’re asking research questions surrounding topics such as social behaviors, husbandry and mating, diet and health, territory management and population stabilization. We want to discover how these dogs are maintaining morphological consistency and resisting hybridization.
