STATEMENT: New federal funds for wildlife crossings could help save NC’s endangered red wolves

RALEIGH, N.C. — As part of $125 million dollars in federal grants for wildlife crossings, the U.S. Department of Transportation will give its North Carolina counterpart $25 million to help provide safe passage for the state’s dwindling red wolf population. Environment North Carolina has been calling on the government to build wildlife crossings to protect the fewer than 20 remaining endangered red wolves.

The federal government allocated the grant to install underpasses and fences along US-64 within the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Dare County, an area where 3 red wolves have been killed by vehicles since September 2023. In addition to helping the Red Wolf Recovery Program, wildlife crossings can increase habitat connectivity within the refuge for black bears and white-tailed deer. 

The $25 million allocated to the NCDOT is part of the second round of grants from the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $350 million for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program to be awarded between 2022 and 2026.

In response, Environment North Carolina Advocate Emily Mason issued the following statement: 

“After a tragic vehicle collision this past year involving one of the few remaining red wolves, there are now less than 20 red wolves left in the wild, all here in North Carolina. We must protect this important and vulnerable species. Time and again, cars driving along US-64 are running them over. It’s not the fault of the driver and it’s not the fault of the wolf. We’ve been advocating that wildlife crossings are the best solution — and it sounds like both the federal and state departments of transportation agree. We are thrilled by the response and hope to see more action taken in the future to protect endangered and iconic North Carolina wildlife like the red wolf.

“America has done an excellent job of building roads so that we can get where we need to go. Now, thankfully, we’re starting to build the crossings that animals need to safely navigate them. Underpasses and fencing are good for the red wolves, good for drivers and good for nature.”