Protect Endangered Red Wolves

By Allison Rigney


Target: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Goal: Ban coyote hunting in the Red Wolf Recovery Area to save endangered red wolves
The state of North Carolina recently approved a rule that would allow the hunting of coyotes during the day and night.  While coyotes are not an endangered species, allowing the hunting of coyotes at night creates a problem for the severely endangered red wolves.

Red wolves are native to the Southeastern United States, and used to live everywhere from the Gulf Coast into the Ohio River Valley and parts of Pennsylvania.  The species was considered to be extinct by 1980, and has only recently been reintroduced into the wild.  There are now around 100 red wolves living in the wild, and all of them live in North Carolina in a special recovery area.

Despite there being a specific area devoted to the recovery of the species, coyote hunting has been allowed there as well.  By allowing people to hunt coyotes, specifically at night, these rare animals are put in direct harm.  Red wolves resemble almost a cross between a gray wolf and a coyote, and could easily be mistaken for a coyote, especially at night.

Coyote hunting needs to stop within the designated Red Wolf Recovery Area.  These animals are already in enough danger, and should not be put in harm’s way by allowing coyote hunting to go on in an area where they should be protected.  Tell the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to ban coyote hunting within the Red Wolf Recovery Area.

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PETITION LETTER:

Dear North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,

North Carolina has recently allowed coyote hunting both during the day and at night in many parts of the state, including the designated Red Wolf Recovery Area.  Allowing coyote hunting in this area, especially at night, puts red wolves in danger of being mistaken for coyotes and killed.
Red wolves were once a fairly common species in most of the Southeastern United States, but were extinct in the wild by 1980.  The now reintroduced species lives exclusively in the Red Wold Recovery Area.
As an endangered species recently reintroduced to the wild, it is essential that red wolves are protected and allowed to recover and repopulate without being shot down by hunters.
Please take action to stop the hunting of coyotes in the Red Wolf Recovery Area.
Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: USFWS/Southeast via Flickr

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