Stop the deforestation of Red Oak, NC. North Carolina is home to the only population of Red Wolves in the world. They are a highly endangered species that were released into local North Carolina in the late 80s with efforts to repopulate. Their population has decreased by 80 percent over the last decade. They since have begun interbreeding with coyotes developing the coywolf hybrid. There are less than dozen documented Red Wolves remaining in Eastern North Carolina. These keystone species play an essential role in our ecosystem by aiding in population control of other species such as deer, rabbits, small rodents, and more. The increase of these species of prey would eventually negatively impact a variety of environmental aspects including local vegetation. Recently there has been a drastic increase in the deforestation of valuable land due to the construction of unnecessarily expensive homes. The development of these properties has already started to demonstrate some of the adverse effects on local residency. As a result, many species have been forced to relocate into populated areas. When one area of an ecosystem is negatively impacted, it creates a snowball effect on the rest of the environmental dynamic. The Red Wolves and coywolves are vital endemic species that deserve to be conserved and protected. Please join me in this effort to make a positive change in our community.