Endangered and threatened species: Red Wolf; reintroduction into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC & TN,

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Federal Register: October 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 195)NoticesPage 54151-54153From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr08oc98-100

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Termination of the Red Wolf Reintroduction Project in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[Page 54152]

ACTION: Notice of termination of reintroduction project.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in conjunction with the National Park Service, has decided to terminate attempts to restore a wild population of red wolves in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Park) in North Carolina and Tennessee. Extremely low pup survival and the inability of the red wolves to establish home ranges within the Park are the reasons for the decision. Establishing a reintroduced population of red wolves depends upon the released animals producing wild offspring that survive to replace natural mortality and increase the population. Our goal for the recovery of this species includes establishing at least three self-sustaining wild populations that total a minimum of 220 animals; without surviving wild offspring, there is no basis for us to expect to contribute to this recovery goal in the Park.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: V. Gary Henry, Red Wolf Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 (828/258-3939, ext. 226).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Park was selected as a potential restoration site due to the large federal land base provided by the Park and surrounding national forests. The project in the Park began in late 1991, with an experimental release of one family group of red wolves. The objective of the experimental release was to evaluate the interactions between red wolves and people, livestock, and coyotes. Initial indications were that restoration was feasible. Subsequent releases of 37 red wolves took place from late 1992 through 1996.

Of 30 wild-born pups from seven litters born in past years, only 2 that were removed from the wild at 6 months of age are known to have survived. Obtaining information on the fate of pups is difficult as they are too small to wear telemetry collars, the usual means of monitoring free-ranging adult red wolves. Pathologists found parvovirus in one of a litter of four pups that all died during midsummer 1993. Later that same summer, coyotes attacked and killed a pup from a separate litter of three. In addition, we have documented malnutrition and heavy infestation of internal and external parasites in pups and adults that have been captured. Therefore, we suspect several factors are contributing to the lack of pup survival including (1) parvovirus and other common canine diseases; (2) internal and external parasites; (3) poor nutrition; and (4) predation by black bears, coyotes, and other predators.

Of the 37 red wolves released in the Park, 26 were recaptured from or died outside Park boundaries. We suspect low availability of prey in the steep, heavily forested slopes that comprise the majority of the Park's 500,000 acres is the likely reason the red wolves stray from the Park. Low food availability can cause wolves to wander widely and/or expand their range. The fact that this was the typical response of the red wolves when released in the Park suggests that it is less preferred habitat when compared to the lower-elevation agricultural land of the surrounding area.

How Many Red Wolves Currently Exist in the Park?

We are presently monitoring two adult red wolves and two pups in the wild. There are six captive red wolves held in pens in the Park. In addition to the four red wolves currently being monitored, there are 32 fate unknown wild red wolves. Contact was lost with four of these as adult animals when their radio transmitters ceased to function. Contact was lost with the remainder while they were pups--before they were old enough to be instrumented with radio telemetry collars. Fate unknown pups include 25 from past years and three from this year. The fate unknown animals are likely dead. The monitored adult male has been observed consorting with a coyote and the monitored adult female has been frequenting campgrounds.

What Will Happen to the Red Wolves Now in the Park?

We are in the process of relocating the six captive red wolves currently being held in the Park. We plan to recapture the remaining known four free-ranging red wolves by the end of the calendar year 1998. These animals will be incorporated into the captive population by placement in one of 36 captive breeding facilities. Exact location will be determined by available space. These animals will also be evaluated for possible release into the wild and one or more may be released into the experimental population in northeastern North Carolina when and if the opportunity becomes available.

Current regulations regarding the Park population (50 CFR 17.84(c)) justify removing the animals for the following reasons:

  (1) moving an animal for genetic purposes,

  (2) taking an animal that constitutes a demonstrable but non- immediate threat to human safety or that is responsible for depredations to lawfully present domestic animals or other personal property, and

  (3) aiding a sick, injured, or orphaned specimen.

Our experiences indicate that leaving the few animals now present would result in one of two things in the future--death or interbreeding with coyotes. Since all red wolves are managed as one population for genetic purposes, the loss of these animals would be a loss to the gene pool.

Activities have already been implemented to capture the adult male for genetic reasons. Removing the female is justified for several reasons. Left alone without other adult red wolves, the female would likely eventually consort and mate with coyotes. Therefore, she will also be removed for genetic purposes. In addition, the frequenting of campgrounds presents another problem of a behaviorally unsuitable animal with a tolerance of humans. This represents a demonstrable but non-immediate threat to human safety and could be responsible for depredation of personal property in the future. For example, there have been three other red wolves that started frequenting campgrounds, gradually progressed to becoming active in daylight hours in the campgrounds, and finally destroyed personal property. Removing the adults then leaves two orphaned pups. The orphaning of the pups by removal of the adults and our past experience of no survival of pups beyond one year indicates that the pups will likely die. In the unlikely event that they survive, the pups would likely consort and breed with coyotes because other red wolves are not available for mates. Therefore, they need to be removed for humanitarian and genetic reasons.

What Regulations Will Apply to the Park Population of Red Wolves?

We will retain the experimental population designation (defined as Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Madison and Swain counties, North Carolina and Blount, Cocke, Monroe, and Sevier counties, Tennessee) and the applicable regulations for this population (50 CFR 17.84(c)), for the immediate future. These regulations provide that any person may take red wolves found on lands owned or managed by Federal, State, or local government agencies, provided that such taking is incidental to lawful activities, is unavoidable, unintentional, and not exhibiting a lack of reasonable due care, or is in defense

[Page 54153]of that person's life or the lives of others. On private lands, the following regulations apply:

  (1) Any person may take red wolves on private land provided that such taking is not intentional or willful, or is in defense of that person's life or the lives of others.

  (2) Any private landowner, or any other individual having his or her permission, may take red wolves found on his or her property when the wolves are in the act of killing livestock or pets, provided that freshly wounded or killed livestock or pets are evident.

  (3) Any private landowner may take red wolves found on his or her property after efforts by project personnel to capture such animals have been abandoned, provided that the Service project leader or biologist has approved such actions in writing.

All takings must be reported within 24 hours to the Park superintendent or State wildlife enforcement officer. The provisions also apply to red wolves found in areas outside the experimental population boundaries, with the exception that reporting of taking or harassment to the Park superintendent, while encouraged, is not required.

These regulations will be retained in case some of the animals that we have lost contact with are still alive and are taken. You should report any wolf-like animal observed with a radio collar around the neck to the Park superintendent. We will examine longevity records for red wolves in the wild and will amend the nonessential experimental population regulation to remove the Park when animals with which we have lost contact would be expected to have lived out their life span.

Are Additional Restoration Efforts Planned for the Future?

We are analyzing information gathered on the restoration of the red wolf over the last 11 years to aid in the selection of future release sites. With the limited resources available to all endangered species programs, it is our responsibility to use the most accurate and current information to make the best choices for recovering the red wolf. This responsibility includes selecting release sites that allow us to establish a population as efficiently as possible for the sake of the species and the interests of the American public.

All large federally owned lands (170,000 acres or more) within the red wolf's historic range are being included in the assessment of potential release sites. However, no site has been selected at this time. We hope to develop a ``short list'' of potential areas that offer the greatest biological potential and then further refine the selection process based on the interests, land use, and attitudes of the public surrounding a particular site. The selection of the next release site will be a very complex process. This process must balance biological, logistical, and socio-political factors. All of these factors can contribute to the success or failure of individual red wolves and, ultimately, to the overall recovery of the species.

Once a potential site is selected, we will follow the regulatory process for establishing a nonessential experimental population by publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register. Comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the proposed rule will be solicited from the public, concerned government agencies, the scientific community, industry, and other interested parties. In making the final decision, we will take into consideration any comments or additional information received. The final determination will also be published in the Federal Register.

Author. The primary author of this notice is V. Gary Henry (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section).

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

Dated: September 30, 1998. H. Dale Hall, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

FR Doc. 98-26841Filed10-7-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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