Decision expected on only wild population of red wolves

Posted June 30, 2015

RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal officials plan to announce whether they will continue, change or end a program in North Carolina to maintain the only wild population of endangered red wolves.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans a conference call Tuesday to say what it will do with the program, an announcement that's been delayed several times. Officials have said all options are on the table.

The announcement comes several months after a report commissioned by the government criticized the program. Earlier this year, state wildlife officials asked the federal government to end the program and declare the wolves extinct in the wild.

The only wild population of the red wolf is in several counties in eastern North Carolina. About 100 now roam the wild, and about 200 are in captive breeding programs.

 

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