The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that a litter of five endangered red wolf pups died after their father was killed by a vehicle on U.S. 64 on the coast, 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. The highway runs through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Five other red wolves were 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 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.