Defenders of Wildlife announced a reward of $2,500 for information that leads to the successful prosecution of the individual(s) responsible for illegally killing a critically-endangered red wolf on April 15. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering an additional $5,000.
On April 15, the deceased wolf was discovered in a muddy field in Tyrrell County. A necropsy revealed the wolf had been shot in the spine, causing it to collapse and ultimately drown in the mud. The red wolf is the world’s most endangered wolf species, with as few as 15 left in the wild.
Ben Prater, Southeast program director at Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:
“This killing was as cowardly as it was cruel. We hope that between this reward and one’s basic humanity, anyone with knowledge of this heinous crime will come forward to help us identify the responsible party.”
Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
