Fewer than 25 red wolves now remain in the wild — and five have been killed by vehicles in less than a year.

Among them was Airplane Ears, the breeding male of the largest remaining pack. Airplane Ears — known for his floppy, sideways ears — was a hardworking father who dutifully hunted for his pups and nursing mate. In September 2023, a vehicle struck and killed him on a state highway that passes through the wolves' refuge.

Tragically, his son Muppet, who was not yet two years old when he became a protector of his after Airplane Ears was killed, was also struck and killed by a vehicle along the same stretch of highway. Yet another red wolf was struck and killed in early June.

It's time for action to protect red wolves from vehicle strikes. Right now the only thing being done to prevent these devastating deaths is putting orange collars on the wolves. It's not enough. Wildlife crossings would save the lives of wolves and humans.

Significant new federal funding is available for wildlife crossings and other safety measures. But to get projects like these off the ground, state and federal agencies need to work together to back and build them.

Sign the petition to tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support wildlife crossings and save the last few red wolves while we still can.