North Carolina's Red Wolf: In the Spotlight and in Peril

Urgent Action Required to Help Critically Endangered Red Wolves! The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recently approved a temporary rule allowing night hunting of coyotes with spotlights throughout the state, including areas inhabited by the critically endangered red wolf. Daytime and nighttime coyote hunting creates risks of death of the last wild population of red wolves. Tell the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: Don't Let Any More Endangered Wolves Die! Dear Activelids, The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recently approved a temporary state rule that allows the hunting of coyotes at night using spotlights, including in the area inhabited by the only wild population of red wolves, one of the world’s most endangered animals. Take action now! Sign our petition calling on the commission to halt all coyote hunting -- day or night -- within the red wolf recovery area. Red wolves once roamed most of the Southeastern United States, but harsh predator control programs and habitat loss resulted in their near elimination — and in 1980 red wolves were declared extinct in the wild. After a small population of captive red wolves was reintroduced into the eastern part of North Carolina, the species slowly began to repopulate and today about 100 red wolves have regained a fragile foothold in the wild. Red wolves and coyotes are similar in size, coats and coloring, so red wolves are frequently mistaken for coyotes, even in daylight. In nighttime conditions it is nearly impossible to tell them apart. Please take this urgent action today! At least two red wolves have already been killed within the eastern North Carolina area designated for red wolf recovery. Defenders of Wildlife has joined two other conservation organizations to file suit in the Superior Court of Wake County, North Carolina to prevent nighttime coyote hunting throughout North Carolina, including within the red wolf recovery area. The groups have also put the North Carolina Wildlife Commission on notice that we will seek a federal enforcement action unless it stops all coyote hunting -- daytime or nighttime -- in the area where these critically endangered wolves live. That’s why we need supporters like you to speak out on behalf of these wolves and tell the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to halt all coyote hunting in the red wolf recovery area! The red wolf only exists in the state of North Carolina, and with a population so small and fragile, an increase in red wolf shooting deaths could mean they'll never recover. Please take this urgent action today! Sincerely, Jamie Rappaport Clark President Defenders of Wildlife P.S. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is jeopardizing the existence of one of the most endangered species on earth — please take action today and help protect critically endangered red wolves.       Defenders of Wildlife leads the pack when it comes to protecting wild animals and plants in their natural communities »        1130 17th Street NW  |  Washington, DC 20036  |  1-800-385-9712               HOME DONATE NOW     CONTACT US RSS FEEDS     PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE           © Copyright 11/01/2012 Defenders of Wildlife. This message was sent to activelid.animals@blogger.com Please do not respond to this message. Click here to unsubscribe Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036