Red wolves hovered on the edge of extinction in the 1980s. Today, they roam the wilds of North Carolina only because of a captive breeding program that reintroduced them to their native territory beginning in 1987. So why is the United States Fish and Wildlife Service letting people shoot and kill endangered red wolves?
Wolves once roamed freely over the forests of the eastern United States, but habitat loss and hunting has mostly wiped them out except for a few enclaves like the one in North Carolina. There, the red wolf population held steady at about 100 for many years, but in the past few months, it has dwindled to 75 or fewer. Meanwhile, the USFWS is rather freely handing out permission to shoot red wolves who are minding their own business. Please join with me in asking the USFWS to stop letting red wolves be killed.
To the United States Fish and Wildlife Service:
We the undersigned deplore the killing of endangered red wolves. It appears that you have been allowing land owners to kill wolves for no good reason. As a result, primarily of shooting, the population of red wolves has declined from a steady 100 to 75 or fewer. Red wolves were here first. They deserve to be left in peace to raise their families and keep their species going. Please stop allowing their senseless destruction!
