There may be as few as 50 red wolves left in the wild – and now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is making reckless decisions that could destroy any remaining hope these struggling wolves have for survival.

FWS recently announced plans to put its efforts to recover red wolves on hold, and we fear they may abandon the Red Wolf Recovery Program in the wild. What’s worse, FWS is legally responsible under the Endangered Species Act for saving red wolves from extinction.

If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t step up and get serious about recovering red wolves soon, these critically endangered wolves will slide toward extinction in the wild – not because of natural causes but because of bureaucratic foot-dragging and power politics.

Defenders has gone to court three times to get the agency to do its job. Just as things were entering a critical stage for red wolves, FWS delivered this blow and is now stepping back while wolves continue to be killed and is refusing to move forward until they "study" the program more.

Tell Secretary Jewell to direct FWS to fully implement red wolf recovery!