Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ Post

The story of the red wolf is the story of wildlife in the South – abundance, followed by decline and now, hard won progress and real hope for the future.   This iconic species once roamed the entire Southeast but was driven to extinction in the wild by exploitation and habitat destruction. Today, as few as 13 known adult wolves call the wild home, all of them on the Albemarle Peninsula in northeastern North Carolina. Yet there is new hope for North Carolina’s wild red wolves.    A reintroduction effort started in the 1980s has helped bring the red wolf back from the brink of extinction, but this critical program has been under assault for decades.  And for all those years, SELC’s dedicated attorneys have worked to defend and restore a program that is the red wolf’s best hope for recovery in the wild. Last month, our wildlife team secured a landmark victory that will help the wild red wolf population recover, giving hope for the future of ‘America’s wolf’. The settlement requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recommit to the conservation of these rare wolves by developing annual plans to release captive red wolves into the wild and providing annual briefings regarding coyote management efforts for a period of eight years. This historic win wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of attorneys Derb Carter, Sierra Weaver, Ramona McGee, Liz Rasheed, North Carolina Senior Communications Manager Kathleen Sullivan, and many others over the years. I urge you to read this expansive Associated Press piece to learn more about the wolf’s complicated history and the power conservation has to protect the animals that make the South so unique. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gaz6B_wi #Wildlife #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies

Congress had sharp criticism for a proposed rule that would prioritize a climate change agenda over a proven hunting conservation strategy that has benefitted wildlife conservation and sportsmen and women. It’s not the first time, either. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule update would implement a rule to “combat” climate change at the expense of wildlife conservation through hunting and angling. The proposal would put National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) decisions based solidly in Washington, D.C., and not in the hands of local biologists who are best positioned to make policy decisions for sustainable conservation. https://lnkd.in/gncWuQYT #BIDEH #USFWS #climatechange #wildlifeconservation

Have you ever heard of Red Wolves ❓ A wildlife crossing on North Carolina’s US Highway 64 is urgently needed. Red wolves, the world’s most endangered canids, have fewer than 25 individuals remaining in the wild. Tragically, five were killed by vehicles last year, all near Highway 64, which cuts through Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges—their last remaining habitat. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 allocates $350 million for the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, with a second round of funding available this year. Despite this, no Southeast project has yet received these crucial funds. To secure federal funding and build a lifesaving wildlife crossing in Red Wolf territory, 20% of the funds must come from state and private sources. An anonymous donor has pledged a $2 million match challenge, which will be given to the North Carolina Department of Transportation if we can raise an additional $2 million. These funds are vital to applying for an additional $16 million through the federal grant program this fall. If successful, this funding will construct wildlife underpasses along US 64, connecting habitats in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on both sides of the highway. The project also includes substantial fencing to guide wildlife safely. This is a critical moment. Red wolves and dozens of other species from bears and bobcats to river otters and skunks rely on us to raise the necessary funds this summer. A coalition led by @wildlandsnetwork and the @centerforbiodiv is spearheading this effort. To pledge or donate, please contact the Center for Biological Diversity’s deputy development director. If you would like to donate personally, please check out the link in my bio!!! 🐺💰✅ Below are a list of the organizations getting the word out about Red Wolves ⬇️ Wildlands Network Center for Biological Diversity NC Wildlife Resources Commission NC Wildlife Federation **Any photograph of Red Wolves used in this video were pulled from Wikipedia Commons and are not mine.**

Congress had sharp criticism for a proposed rule that would prioritize a climate change agenda over a proven hunting conservation strategy that has benefitted wildlife conservation and sportsmen and women. It’s not the first time, either. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule update would implement a rule to “combat” climate change at the expense of wildlife conservation through hunting and angling. The proposal would put National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) decisions based solidly in Washington, D.C., and not in the hands of local biologists who are best positioned to make policy decisions for sustainable conservation. https://lnkd.in/gncWuQYT #BIDEH #USFWS #climatechange #wildlifeconservation

The importance of interconnected habitat cannot be overstated. While our urban landscapes present complex challenges with property rights and connectivity, the work we’re doing with the CLAW is an inspiring start to conserving and sustaining both human and non-human relationships with our living environment.

Did you know that the national wildlife refuges (NWR) have lost about 25% of staff over the past decade due to inadequate funding? Current budget negotiations in Washington D.C. to provide stopgap funding for the Department of the Interior could result in further cuts of 10% to already strained wildlife refuge budgets. Founded by President Roosevelt in 1903, the national wildlife refuge system today encompasses over 500 refuges in all 50 states and provides critical habitat for birds and other wildlife, in addition to popular outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which actually predates the formation of the refuge system, is today the oldest facility to be designated and managed for wildlife within the current national wildlife refuge system. The two endangered species recovery programs that the Sutton Center is currently collaborating on also rely on refuges to provide homes for birds that we raise for release. Your vocal support for refuges and the birds they protect can help influence the federal budget process. Visit https://lnkd.in/gbYFaCPQ to quickly and easily convey your support to your legislators. Photo: Refuges provide important habitats for many birds, including the bald eagle.

ICYMI: last week we announced some exciting news for wildlife crossings in Utah. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded over $5 million to help us build wildlife crossings along US-89, east of Kanab. One question we often get about wildlife crossings is, “why don’t you build them everywhere?” Well, one major hurdle is funding. The cost of wildlife crossings is typically measured in the millions. Another factor is location. Wildlife crossings need to connect one habitat to another habitat. Areas with development on both sides of the road are not good candidates for crossings as animals will not flourish on either side. Lastly, we closely monitor the migration patterns of animals as well as wildlife-vehicle collisions. If we can identify an area where animals are already moving from one habitat to another, and there's wildlife-vehicle collisions, a wildlife crossing can make a big difference. Fun fact: we have more than 60 crossings throughout the state. If you want to learn more about existing crossings and future projects check out https://lnkd.in/gMV8xB-R. #wildlifecrossing #infrastructure #udot #utah