The red wolf was shot, trapped, poisoned, and clubbed to death until 1967 when the federal government declared it an endangered species. In 1975, in an effort to prevent the red wolf s demise, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured all remaining wild red wolves, which numbered fewer than 20, and began to breed them successfully in captivity. Reintroduction of the species began in 1987, when captive animals were released into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeast North Carolina, with later releases into nearby Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. More than 100 red wolves have since been born in the wild, and a stable population of about 60 adults has been established in eastern North Carolina. Most of the people who live in North Carolina are as pleased as I am in knowing that these wolves are back where they belong and that they will continue to add diversity to the ecosystem, said Schlickeisen.
Studies demonstrate the majority of North Carolina residents support red wolf recovery.
The plaintiff s lawsuit is a threat not just to red wolves, but also to the entire Endangered Species Act program , said Michael Senatore, wildlife counsel for Defenders of Wildlife. The 1998 ruling clearly reaffirmed the authority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve our nation s endangered species and it bolstered ongoing efforts to restore wolves in other parts of the country. This latest appeal is something we anticipated, and it s something we are prepared to fight. In addition to creating a more diverse ecosystem, the wolves have the potential to generate millions of tourist dollars for the eastern North Carolina region. People love the wolves.