The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (F&W) recently proposed a rule (FWS-R4-ES-2018-0035) that, if adopted, could decimate the only population of wild red wolves now in existence (currently estimated at 30 or fewer wolves). The proposed rule would diminish the red wolf recovery area to ten percent of its current territory, limiting red wolves to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent Dare County Bombing Range—an area that can support fewer than 15-20 wolves by F&W’s own assessment.
The rule further proposes to allow any wolves that leave these boundaries and move onto state or private land to be shot, poisoned, or trapped without penalty. Even with the protections of the current recovery program in place, estimates place the number of red wolves poached in the last ten years at nearly 100, so losing any of these protections would be devastating to the population.
You can read the Draft Environmental Assessment of this proposed plan here (including possible alternative approaches F&W considered but abandoned).
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW to ensure that endangered red wolves don’t lose their protections! Please let F&W know you oppose FWS-R4-ES-2018-0035 by submitting your comments to the proposed rule here (click on the “Comment Now!” button) before the July 30 deadline.
Suggested talking points (and please personalize your comments):
- I am opposed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s proposed rule to restrict the endangered red wolf to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent Dare County Bombing Range.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife is tasked with protecting the country’s endangered species. Limiting the protections afforded red wolves would be antithetical to this mandate and would be in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
- The proposed rule would have severe negative consequences on the already precariously small population of fewer than 30 red wolves, and would further endanger their recovery.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife should maintain the current red wolf recovery zone by selectiing “Alternative 2” rather than “Alternative 3” of the Draft Environmental Assessment.
Please share this Action Alert — and thank you for helping to protect red wolves!