National News

There Are Only 40 Red Wolves Left in the Wild. “While some animals are swooping off the endangered species list, other creatures need our help now more than ever. According the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), there are only 40 red wolves living in the wild. This news comes after the FWS released its five-year status review and Species Status Assessment on the animal native to the southeastern United States. Every five years the FWS is required to conduct a review of the animals on the endangered species list to see if the statuses of any species need to be changed. After looking at the latest data on the red wolf, the FWS chose not to change the animal’s endangered status. This is the latest event in an existence full of ups and downs. The red wolf, which still isn’t designated as a true species, was first classified as endangered in 1967 under the Endangered Species Protection Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act’s predecessor.” [People, 4/25/18 (=)]

Report: Wolves Continue Comeback in Oregon after Eradication. “Biologists in Oregon counted 124 wolves in their annual tally, an 11 percent increase over last year’s numbers, and hailed the results Thursday as evidence that wolves are regaining their foothold in the state after being wiped out by bounty hunters more than 70 years ago. Wolf advocates, however, blasted the report by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and said the report exaggerates the success of wolf recovery at a critical juncture when state officials are considering how to manage the species going forward. They also criticized the agency for allowing ranchers to kill wolves to prevent attacks on livestock, including a kill order that was issued this week for up to any two wolves from a new pack that includes a heavily pregnant female.” [AP, 4/26/18 (=)]