But their populations are slowly coming back, partly thanks to a breeding and reintroduction program that also takes special care of the canines' teeth.

(Karen Wolf, Head veterinarian// Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)

"They should be a national treasure. So it is a privilege to be able to provide their medical care. And it's very important for people to be aware of this species and want to understand them so that they can be protected in the wild and not go extinct."

At the Tacoma-based Point Defiance Zoo, veterinarian Karen Wolf and her team are conducting dental exams and teeth-cleaning for a 9-year-old wolf known as 2077.

"He's actually the grandfather of six pups that were born this past spring. And he's the father of a very special wolf that was re-released into the wild. So he is quite a patriarch."

2077 received a thorough cleaning and X-rays, and a diseased molar was removed.

The vets also administered vaccines and drew blood to assess his overall health.

"American red wolves that are in managed care tend to live a lot longer than red wolves that would be free ranging. And that's because they do have annual exams and dental hygiene. Their teeth are in excellent condition. What you might find in a wild or free ranging red wolf is broken teeth. You might find some fractures in their teeth, which would prevent them from eating meat very well."

Meanwhile at an off-site breeding center, the most recent litter of pups are learning how to howl.

Land Animal Curator Natalie Davis:

"They're playing, you know, they're learning how to be wolves and, you know, learning how to howl for the first time is one of the honestly cutest things you'll ever see."

The pups represent another success in an effort to save the extremely fragile species from extinction.

Red wolves once ranged from New York to Texas.

But by the late 1960s to 1970s their population was decimated, partly due to an eradication program that killed wolves to protect people and other animals.

Today, some 270 red wolfs are known to exist, mostly in managed care or zoos.

Craig Standridge works for the Red Wolf SAFE program that supports conservation efforts for this species.

"My favorite thing, absolute favorite thing about red wolves is the fact that they are the American red wolf. So the only wolf species that is native only to the United States of America. So I have a a great sense of pride in knowing that this animal is our animal and it's out there, and we're working so hard to save it because we want it to be part of that landscape for generations to come."