The wild red wolf population is highly decreasing
The wild red wolf population is significantly reducing which is the reason why the animals will have to leave the nearly 2 million acres in eastern North Carolina that they wander on for the public areas in Dare County.
The territories they can be found on are highly dangerous and could get them shot by private landowners who considered them a mixed-breed inconvenience. Moreover, the wild red wolves could mate with coyotes, and this activity could lead to the extinction of the population.
The Fish and Wildlife Service shared their conclusion on Monday. It followed a study of the species that lasted two years and involved divided public input.
In 1980, the wild red wolf was declared extinct. In 1987 four captive-born partners were exhibited in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. However, scientists have different opinions when it comes to the species being specified in the Endangered Species Act and its origins.
Because the red wolf has breed since then with coyotes it now preys on small pets and livestock and landowners have usually shot them by accident when mistaken with coyotes.
Wildlife groups criticize the statement on Monday praising te effort to include the animals in the wild which lasted around 30 years.
There are now just around 45 wild red wolves including 29 which are carefully examined by biologists. According to a statement from the Fish and Wildlife Service, only three pairs are still among the studied animals.
In 2012, five eastern North Carolina counties had more than 100 wolves subsisting in 1.7 million acres of mostly private land.
The regional manager of Fish and Wildlife Service, Cindy Dohner, mentioned few steps needed to save the red wolf species. Among the measures, she suggested that managing the current wild population in the 152,000 acres Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and 46,000 acres, Dare County is highly advised.
Moreover, the number of captive red wolves must reach at least 400. Scientists think that a comprehensive analysis must be created of the red wolf species, and new sites must be identified for the population. All of these measures could guarantee the success of the species’ evolution.
Conservation groups mention that the national administration has already prohibited practices that helped increase the population of wolves such as sterilizing coyotes that seldom interbreed with the red wolf population and freeing pups born in captivity in the wild.
Image source: Wikipedia
Deborah Campbell
