With the tragic vehicle strike death of red wolf 2323M, the breeding male of the Milltail pack, rapid and judicious measures need to be taken to protect red wolves in Eastern North Carolina from vehicle strike collisions.

Please encourage the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to work together to implement wildlife crossings and improved safety measures for the red wolves and other wildlife living along Highway 64 cutting through Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. There has recently been a surge of positive momentum towards building more wildlife road crossings in North Carolina, and these agencies need to keep that trend going by acting now to protect red wolves from being killed on roads.   

2323M—sometimes known as "Airplane Ears" due to his characteristic floppy, sideways ears—was beloved to many. He was known for being a hardworking father, dutifully hunting in scorching hot weather to provide for his pups and nursing mate. He was born in the wild on St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge in 2019 and translocated and released in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 2021, when he paired up with 2225F of the Milltail pack. In 2022, he fathered the first red wolf pups born in the wild since 2018! Five out of six of those pups survived; the lone pup mortality was also due to a vehicle strike. This spring, he fathered another litter of five pups and took on an additional foster pup. As of October 2023, those 5 yearlings and 6 pups still survive, as does his mate 2225F. Unfortunately, “Airplane Ears” was struck and killed by a vehicle on September 26, 2023, on US Highway 64. The loss of the breeding male and father is absolutely devastating to the wild population, which is down to only 19 known wolves (adults and pups). 

The biggest threats to red wolves are illegal gunshot and vehicle strike. Highways 64 cuts through critical red wolf habitat, including large parts of the Milltail pack’s territory at Alligator River NWR. Vehicle collision was also the cause of death for one of 2323M's pups in October 2022, the only pup to not survive her first year. 

Multiple solutions are being considered, with likely the best and most effective option being a system of wildlife road crossings (underpasses or overpasses) and appropriate guide fencing (to steer the animals to the crossings and keep them off the highway). The crossings and fencing would be erected along most if not all of the 12 mile section of Highway 64 that cuts through Alligator River NWR between the Alligator River bridge and the junction with Highway 264. Constructing fences and wildlife crossings in the eastern NC red wolf population area will no doubt be expensive and require extensive planning, but the critically endangered red wolf deserves these better protections. Other potential solutions include the more prompt removal of roadkill along the highway (roadkill attracts the wolves to the edge of the road), widening road shoulders to increase visibility, rumble strips, better enforcement of existing speed limits (55mph), and even lowering the speed at night when most red wolf vehicular collisions occur (ideally 40mph). These other solutions to reduce red wolf injuries and deaths from vehicle collisions can be implemented as a temporary measure until the fence and wildlife crossings are constructed.

Please let it be known that you demand better protections for red wolves along highways by signing this petition. In 2323M's memory, for his surviving mate, offspring and future grand puppies, please share this petition far and wide. Thank you. 

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Images below: 

Title Image: 2323M/Airplane Ears by Jeff Ferrence

1. 2323M/Airplane Ears with one of his daughters, born in 2022; the first wild born litter since 2018! 

2. 2225F, the surviving mate of 2323M with some of their puppies. Red wolves are strictly monogamous and mate for life. 

3. 2412F, one of 2323M and 2225F's daughters; she is now a year and a half.