The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that a litter of five endangered red wolf pups has died after their father was killed by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 64, leaving fewer than 20 of their species remaining in the wild.
The pups were the offspring of a 2-year-old female red wolf named Chance, otherwise designated 2413F, and her partner, 2444M and were born in the spring. The father was killed by a vehicle soon after the pups were born.
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The highway runs through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Five other red wolves have been killed by vehicles in the past 14 months. Pup survival is always a concern after the mortality of one of the breeding pair, particularly red wolves with their first litter, such as was the case with this pair, officials said.
“The tragic deaths of these five pups might have been prevented if we had wildlife crossings in red wolf country,” said Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s shocking to see how a single vehicle collision has ripple effects across the critically endangered wild red wolf population. Wildlife crossings can protect people and save red wolves from extinction, but we need to build them before it’s too late.”
The organization noted how red wolves are monogamous and mate for life, and both parents participate in caring for their pups. “After the death of her partner, Chance was likely unable to feed and care for her pups by herself as a first-time, single mother,” the group said.
The group has also called for wildlife crossings to be built along Highway 64, which it said would benefit more than two dozen other species, including black bears, bobcats, spotted turtles and river otters.
“The crossings also protect human lives. Wildlife collisions kill more than 200 people in the United States every year and cause $10 billion in damages. Wildlife crossings have been shown to reduce vehicle collisions by 97%. Crossings along Highway 64 would safeguard animals and an increasing number of motorists traveling to and from the Outer Banks,” according to the group.
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In a campaign to build wildlife crossings along U.S. 64, an anonymous donor pledged a $2 million match. More than $1 million has been raised. The wildlife crossing fundraising deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. Donations to the matching fund can be made at SaveRedWolves.org.
On Aug. 1, with funding from Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Welfare Institute, the Wildlands Network launched a roadkill monitoring survey on U.S. 64. During the first month of surveys, more than 1,300 dead vertebrate animals were documented between Columbia and Manns Harbor, along with about 6 miles of U.S. Highway 264 south from the U.S. 64 junction. The group said the total included nearly 300 frogs, more than 400 snakes and about 500 turtles, in addition to a dead bear, bobcat, and mink.
“Building wildlife road crossings and fencing (to guide the animals to the crossings) on US 64 would help prevent this incredible carnage and help save the red wolf from extinction in the wild, in addition to boosting public safety as well (no one wants to hit a 600-lb black bear on the way to their beach vacation!),” said Dr. Ron Sutherland, chief scientist with the Wildlands Network.
The Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the current red wolf population at 17-19.
