Red Wolves Near Extinction

RALEIGH -- Earlier this year, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency about protecting the Red Wolves from extinction.

[ "The wild red wolf is part of the cultural and economic fabric of our state and is the only wolf unique to the United States." Cooper said in the letter, later adding that he had directed agencies under his control to work with federal wildlife officials to help with conservation efforts. "There is a viable path forward for North Carolina's red wolves living in the wild." NC Governor Roy Cooper said in the letter.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June proposed to reduce the current conservation area to federal land in two counties and lift restrictions on killing wolves that stray from that area

A proposal was made in June by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cut the conservation area down to two counties. ]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife lawyers claim new rules for the red wolf program, set to be finalized next month, mean that the conservationists’ current arguments are moot. The federal lawyers say a new lawsuit would need to be filed to halt new plans set to be finalized by the end of November.

Conservationists argue the federal government ignored the dwindling number of wolves, down to just an estimated number of 35. Red Wolves are exclusive to the U.S.

To read more and see what you may do to help: Red Wolves Endangered Species Coalition