Seven endangered red wolves have been shot and killed in North Carolina in 2012. Due to a law that permits night hunting, the red wolves are mistaken for coyotes. The rule change that allows night hunting threatens the Red Wolf with extinction.
Having gone extinct in the wild in the 1980's, captive bred red wolves were re-introduced in 1987 on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in north eastern North Carolina. The estimated wild red wolf population is between 100 and 120 animals.
People still carry their beliefs that top-level predators are dangerous and must be eliminated even though red wolves are elusive and generally avoid humans and human activity.
Tell North Carolina to ban night hunting. The Red Wolf cannot recover if it continues to be mistaken for a coyote and shot and killed. It is difficult enough to distinguish a coyote from a red wolf in broad daylight- and impossible during night hunting.
Bev Perdue
Office of the Governor
Constituent Services Office
116 West Jones Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
Phone: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391
Fax: (919) 733-2120
EMail: governor.office@nc.gov