The U.S. government has reached a settlement with conservation groups to release more endangered red wolves into the wilds of North Carolina. The lawsuit was filed by conservation groups, including the Red Wolf Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Animal Welfare Institute, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stopped releasing captive-bred wolves. Eastern North Carolina is the only place in the world where these wolves roam wild outside of zoos and wildlife refuges.
The settlement agreement, which was reached on Wednesday, requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop and publish red wolf release plans for the next eight years. The plans will include metrics to measure performance and ensure the management is consistent with the Endangered Species Act. This agreement is seen as a positive step towards restoring the red wolf population and preventing their extinction.
Red wolves were once widespread in the Eastern U.S. but were driven to the brink of extinction due to trapping, hunting, and habitat loss. They were reintroduced to North Carolina in 1987, and their range is now limited to five counties in the state. The captive population of red wolves has been maintained at nearly 300 individuals in recent years, with the wild population growing beyond 100 and remaining stable until 2012.
The growth of the wild population was aided by the release of captive-born pups and the sterilization of coyotes that competed for their habitat. However, these initiatives were halted in 2015 due to pressure from conservative politicians and landowners who viewed the wolves as a nuisance. As a result, the number of red wolves in the wild declined, and by 2020, there were as few as seven individuals remaining.
The conservation groups argued in their lawsuit that the Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act by halting the release of captive-bred wolves. A federal judge ordered the agency to produce a plan to bolster the population of wild red wolves. The judge noted that extinction was a real possibility if action was not taken.
The settlement agreement is seen as a victory for conservation groups and is expected to prevent the extinction of red wolves in the wild. As of June, there were 16 known or collared red wolves living in the wild, with an estimated total population of 32 to 34. The captive population consists of 278 individuals.
The agreement to release more red wolves into the wild will help restore their population and protect the unique ecosystem of Eastern North Carolina. It represents a reversal of the previous policy and a commitment to preserving this endangered species.
The red wolves are part of a successful predator reintroduction program that has been in place for 25 years in North Carolina. This settlement brings hope that the red wolf will once again be celebrated as a conservation success story and will continue to thrive in its rightful place in the wild.
