Your second chance to speak up for the red wolf, the world’s rarest wolf
Only 35 individuals are all that remains of America’s wild red wolf population, roaming their protected habitat in North Carolina. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) new management plan would shrink the wolves’ haven to just 12 percent of its former size — and legalize hunting of any red wolf that crosses the border.1
It’s not too late to prevent this disastrous management strategy from becoming reality. The public comment period on the new plan has been reopened. Now is our last chance to speak up for the protection of America’s wonderful, wild red wolves.2
Red Wolves on the Brink
Systematic hunting nearly erased red wolves from the face of the Earth forever. This irreplaceable species was once reduced to only 14 individuals.3
Careful management of the captive population, coupled with a remarkable reintroduction effort, resulted in a peak population of over 130 animals in 2006.4
But illegal hunting and other human-caused mortality have since whittled the wild population back down to the couple dozen living today. By reducing the management area and making hunting on private land legal, the FWS is turning back the clock on red wolf conservation by decades.
How You Can Help
The FWS should protect the last wild red wolves, not consign them to a life of danger from hunters. We can’t waste this chance to tell the FWS that red wolves need protection.
Our voices have made all the difference for wolves before. When gray wolves were on the chopping block earlier this year, tens of thousands of you spoke up and ensured that they kept their protected status.
Now it’s time to lend red wolves our support, before they vanish forever. In reopening the comment period, the FWS has shown us that they’re listening to public opinion about the fate of the last wild red wolves.
1. Darryl Fears, “Interior Department plans to let people kill endangered red wolves,” The Washington Post, June 27th, 2018.
2. “Service reopens comment period on new management rule for red wolves in North Carolina,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, August 10th, 2018.
3. Bo Petersen, “Fish and Wildlife to allow open hunting of endangered wild red wolves in Southeast,” The Post and Courier, June 27th, 2018.
4. Bo Petersen, “Fish and Wildlife to allow open hunting of endangered wild red wolves in Southeast,” The Post and Courier, June 27th, 2018.