Looking for Shooter of Red Wolf

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting assistance with an investigation involving the suspected illegal take of a second radio-collared red wolf that was recently found dead. The wolf was found with a suspected gunshot wound on October 12, 2012, east of Belhaven, in Beaufort County, N.C. Another red wolf was found dead on September 4, 2012, near Creswell, in the western part of Tyrrell County, N.C.  Anyone with information that directly leads to an arrest for the suspected unlawful take of this red wolf may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,500.  The red wolf is protected under The Endangered Species Act. The maximum criminal penalties for the unlawful taking of a red wolf are one year imprisonment and $100,000 fine per individual. The red wolf (Canis rufus) is one of the world’s most endangered wild canids. Once common throughout the southeastern United States, red wolf populations were decimated by the 1960’s due to intensive predator control programs and loss of habitat.  By 1987, enough red wolves were bred in captivity to begin a restoration program on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. Since then, the experimental population area has expanded to include three national wildlife refuges in the state.  Anyone with information on the death of any red wolf is urged to contact Special Agent Sandra Allred at (919) 856-4786.  For learn more about red wolves, please visit our website at www.fws.gov/redwolf.