Litter of five endangered red wolves dies after father killed

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that a litter of five endangered red wolf cubs died after their father was hit by a car on U.S. Highway 64, leaving fewer than 20 of their species left in the wild.

The pups were the offspring of a two-year-old female red wolf named Chance, also referred to as 2413F, and her mate 2444M and were born in the spring. The father was killed by a vehicle shortly after the pups were born.

The highway passes through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Five other red wolves have been killed by cars in the past 14 months. The survival of the cubs is always a concern when a pair has died, especially for red wolves with their first litter, as was the case with this pair, officials said.

“The tragic deaths of these five pups may have been prevented if there were wildlife crossings in the areas where red wolves live,” said Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It is shocking to see how a single vehicle accident has ripple effects on the critically endangered wild red wolf population. Wildlife crossings can protect people and save red wolves from extinction, but we must build them before it is too late.”

The organization pointed out that red wolves are monogamous and mate for life, and that both parents care for the cubs. “After the death of her mate, Chance, as a young, single mother, was likely unable to feed and care for her cubs on her own,” the group said.

The group also called for the construction of wildlife crossings along Highway 64, which they said would benefit more than two dozen other species, including black bears, bobcats, spotted turtles and river otters.

“The crossings also protect human lives. Collisions with wildlife kill over 200 people in the U.S. each year and cause $10 billion in damage. Wildlife crossings have been shown to reduce vehicle collisions by 97%. Crossings along Highway 64 would protect the animals and an increasing number of motorists traveling to and from the Outer Banks,” the group said.

As part of a campaign to build wildlife crossings along US 64, an anonymous donor pledged $2 million. More than $1 million was raised. The wildlife crossing donation deadline has been extended to October 31. Donations to the donation fund can be made at SaveRedWolves.org.

On August 1, the Wildlands Network, with funding from the Defenders of Wildlife and the Animal Welfare Institute, launched a surveillance study of roadkill on U.S. Highway 64. During the first month of the survey, more than 1,300 dead vertebrates were documented between Columbia and Manns Harbor and along about 6 miles of U.S. Highway 264 south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 64. The group said a total of nearly 300 frogs, more than 400 snakes and about 500 turtles were found, as well as a dead bear, a bobcat and a mink.

“Building wildlife crossings and fencing (to direct animals to the crossings) on U.S. 64 would help prevent this incredible carnage and save the red wolf from extinction in the wild. It would also increase public safety (no one wants to hit a 600-pound black bear on the way to a beach vacation!),” said Dr. Ron Sutherland, chief scientist for the Wildlands Network.

The Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the current red wolf population at 17–19.