NC Red Wolf Comments from Governor Cooper July 30 2018pdf
NC Red Wolf Comments from Governor Cooper July 30 2018pdf
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  3. NorthCarolinaDepartmentofNaturalandCulturalResourcesOfficeoftheSecretaryGovernorRoyCooperSecretarySusiH.HamiltonJuly30,2018PublicCommentsProcessingAttn:FWS-R4-ES-2018-0035U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceMS:BPHC5275LeesburgPikeFallsChurch,VA22041-3803ToWhomItMayConcern:TheNorthCarolinaDepartmentofNaturalandCulturalResources(DNCR)isproudoftheextensivecollaborativeeffortsthatmakeNorthCarolinatheonlystateinthenationwheretheAmericanredwolfexistsinthewild.DNCRopposestheUnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService's(USFWS)pendingproposedmanagementrulechangestotheredwolfrecoveryprogram,forseveralreasons.First,thechangeswouldimperilthecontinuedexistenceofthisspeciesinthewild.Second,scientificresearchhasdemonstratedthataviablewildpopulationcanbemaintainedifmanagedappropriately.Third,publiccommentsstronglysupporttheAmericanredwolfrecoveryprogram.Finally,existenceofredwolvesinthewildcanbeasignificanteconomicdriverthrougheco-tourism.TheAmericanredwolfisthemostendangeredcanidintheworld,andiscurrentlymeetingthecriteriaforadistinctpopulationundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA).In1973only14redwolvesremainedinthewild.Topreventtheirextinction,thesewolvesweretakenintocaptivityandtheRedWolfRecoveryProgramwasestablishedbytheUSFWSincollaborationwiththeAssociationofZoosandAquariums(AZA).EstablishingthecaptivebreedingprogramsavedtheAmericanredwolf,butitalsoresultedinthespeciesbecomingextinctinthewild.Torestoreredwolvestothewild,areintroductionprogramwasestablishedinthe1980s,andwolveswerereleasedontheAlbemarlePeninsulainNorthCarolinain1987.ThisreintroductionrepresentedthefirsttimeinUnitedStateshistorythatanendangeredspeciesthathadbecomeextinctinthewildwasreintroducedtoitshistoricalrange(USFWS2016;Simonis2018).MAILfNGADDRESS:4601MailServiceCenterRaleigh,NC27699-4600Telephone:(919)807-7250Fax:(919)733-1564LOCATION:109EastJonesStreetRaleigh,NC
  4. u.s.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018Page2ThoughtherehasbeensomecontroversyaroundwhethertheAmericanredwolfcanbeconsideredadistinctspecies(andthereforewarrantingrecoveryundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct),a2018reviewofthelatestdatabytheUSFWSrecommendednochangeintheredwolfsoverallstatusasendangeredundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct(USFWS2018),andgeneticanalysesconfirmedthepopulation'suniqueness(Waplesetal.2018).TheAmericanredwolfisoneofAmerica'sheritagespecies,historicallyrangingonlyintheUnitedStates(Waplesetal.2018).NativetoNorthCarolinaandsoutheasternUnitedStates,theAmericanredwolfremainsextinctinallotherstates.ThewildredwolfpopulationontheAlbemarlePeninsulaiscurrentlyunderthreat,withonly24knownwolvesremaining.However,thegrowthofthewildpopulationearlyintherecoveryprogramindicatesthatawildAmericanredwolfpopulationcanbeviablewithappropriatemanagement.Atthattime,whenarangeofstrategieswereinplacetosupporttherecovery,thenumberofAmericanredwolvesinNorthCarolinagrewuntiltherewereapproximately130wolvesinthewildintheearly-tomid-2000s(USFWS2007,2014;Hintonetal.,2017).Thedeclineofthewildpopulationisnotprimarilyduetothebiologyoftheredwolforalackoftoolsavailabletotherecoveryprogramtomitigatethreatstoredwolfsurvival.Thetwoprimarythreatstowildredwolvesarehybridizationwithcoyotesandanthropogenicmortality(Hintonetal.2017).TheissueofhybridizationwassuccessfullyaddressedviatheRedWolfAdaptiveManagementProgram(RWAMP),whichincludedacoyotesterilizationprogram(Stoskopfetal.2005,GeseandTerletzky2015,Geseetal.2015),andpriorto2004anthropogenicmortalityoccurredatalevelthatstillallowedthepopulationtogrow(e.g.,Kelleyetal.1999)..Changestomanagementstrategies,andalackofprogramsputinplacetoeffectivelycounterchangingthreats,aretheprimarycausesofthepopulationdecline.ChangestotheRWAMP,includingcessationofthecoyotesterilizationprogramandamorethantwo-foldincreaseingunshotmortalitieshavecausedtherecentlyobservedreductioninthewildpopulation(USFWS2007,BartelandRabon2013,Hintonetal.2017).Thesechallengeshavebeencompoundedbythesuspensionofreleasingnewwolvesfromcaptivity(since2015)andalackofeffectiveparticipatoryengagementwithlocalstakeholders(hunters,landownersandthegeneralpublic;Hintonetal.2017).TheproposednewchangestotheUSFWSmanagementoftheAmericanredwolfinNorthCarolinarestricttherecoveryareaforthepopulationinawaythatwillhavesignificantnegativeeffectsonthelong-termviabilityofthewildAmericanredwolfpopulation.Populationviabilityanalysisindicatesthatthelimitedrecoveryarea(andassociatedreductionincarryingcapacity)proposedbytheUSFWSwouldlikelyleadtotheextinctionofthewildAmericanredwolfpopulationwithin14years(Faustetal.2016).
  5. U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018Page3TheproposedchangestotheUSFWSmanagementoftheAmericanredwolfinNorthCarolinareduceprotectionspreventingtheshootingandkillingofwildAmericanredwolves.Thischangewillfurtherexacerbatethealreadydirelevelofhuntingmortalitypresentintherecoveryarea.AmericanredwolvesarelistedasCriticallyEndangeredbytheInternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)andarelistedasEndangeredundertheUnitedStatesEndangeredSpeciesAct.TheAmericanredwolfiscurrentlynotaffordedalltheprotectiontowhichanESAendangeredspeciesisentitled.OfallpubliccommentsmadetotheUSFWSin2017regardingscalingbackofthereleaseprogram,98.6%ofthecommentsthatcamefromNorthCarolinaresidentswereinsupportoftherecoveryprogram.Theyfavoredadditionaleffortstosavethisspeciesfromextinction.Eveninthecountieswherethereleaseisoccurring(andwheresupportisperceivedtobelimited),morethantwo-thirdsofcommentssupportedtherecoveryprogram.DNCRopposestheUSFWSproposedmanagementrulechangesandrecommendsinsteadthatpreviouslysuccessfulrecoverystrategiesbere-institutedwithadditionalsignificantfocusontheneedsandconcernsoflocallandowners.Privatelandowners'needsandconcernsmustbeaddressed.Privatepartnersarecriticaltothesuccessofthis,andinfactany,wildliferecoveryeffort.Additionalandsignificantoutreachtothehuntingcommunityandthegeneralpublicinthereleaseareaalsoisrequired.Reinstitutingpreviouslyeffectivemanagementpolicies,ifpairedwitharenewedefforttoreachouttolocalcommunities,willallowforcontinuationoftheRWAMP(includingthecoyoteplaceholderprogram),resumptionofreleasingnewwolvesintothewildfromcaptivity,protectionoftheredwolvesfromhunting,andretainingtheentirefive-countyareaforthereintroductionprogram.DNCR'snaturalresourcesdivisionssharethemandatetoconserveandprotectNorthCarolina'snaturalheritageandbiodiversity.ThatiswhyDNCRisanactiveparticipantintheAmericanredwolfrecoveryprogram.Beinginvolvedfromthebeginning,DNCRdivisionshaveinvestedsignificanttime,energyandresourcesfrommanyprofessionaldisciplines.DNCRiscommittedtotherecoveryoftheAmericanredwolf.
  6. u.s.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018Page4Examplesinclude:•TheNorthCarolinaZoomanagesthesecondlargestAmericanredwolfbreedingprogramintheUnitedStates.Continuingitsdedicationtomaintainingahealthy,geneticallyviablepopulationunderhumancare,theNorthCarolinaZooleadsboththeSpeciesSurvivalPlan(SSP)andSAFE(SavingSpeciesfromExtinction)programs.ThesenationalprogramsarefocusedonconservingtheAmericanredwolfandgrowingthepopulationbothinthewildandinzoosandrelatedfacilities.•TheNorthCarolinaMuseumofNaturalScienceshasconductedresearchonthegeneticdistinctivenessoftheAmericanredwolf.•TheNaturalHeritageProgramworkswithlandownersandmanagerson231,492acresofRegisteredHeritageAreasand66,738acresofDedicatedNaturePreserveswithintheexistingAmericanredwolfrecoveryareatoencouragedevelopmentofmanagementplansthatwillsafeguardandenhancethenaturalplantandanimalcommunities,includingwolfpopulationsonprotectedlands.•TheNaturalHeritageProgramandCleanWaterManagementTrustFundcooperatewithlandtrustsandstateandlocalgovernmentagenciestosupportconservationofhabitatundertheStateNaturePreservesAct.•TheDivisionofParksandRecreationprovidesprotectedhabitatforwolveswithintheboundariesofGooseCreekandPettigrewStateParksandLakePhelps,andmanagesthehabitatappropriatelytopromotenaturalconditions.TheecologicalpositionoftheAmericanredwolfasatoppredatorenhancesthehealthoftheseecosystemsbyinfluencingpopulationsofsmallmammals.DNCRrecommendsthatthesestepsbetaken:•Maintainthecurrentfive-countyrecoveryarea,ratherthanreduceit.•Resumethereleaseofcaptivewolvesintothewild.•RestartandadequatelyfundthecoyotesterilizationprogramandotherstrategiesoutlinedintheRedWolfAdaptiveManagementProgram.•Protectwildredwolvesfromgunshotmortalities.
  7. u.s.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018Page5•Addresstheconcernsoflandownersthroughsincereandexpandedengagement,educationprograms,localpartnerships,removalofredwolvesfromprivatepropertyuponrequest,andotherstrategies.•ConservemorelandsthatmaybesafeharborsforwildAmericanredwolves.Workingwithwillinglandowners,stateagenciesshouldcontinuetoidentifyandpreservelandswhereprotectionofNorthCarolina'sbiodiversityismaximized,withanemphasisonprioritizinglandsthatareorcouldbeimportantAmericanredwolfhabitat.•SupportNorthCarolinaZoo'seffortstoincreaseholdingandbreedingspaceforreleasablepopulationsofAmericanredwolvesinhumancare.Currentlythisbreedingprogramisthesecondlargestintheworld.Expandingthesizeofthecaptivepopulation,improvingmanagement,andrestartingreleasesintothewildwouldhavesignificantpositiveimpactsonboththewildandcaptivepopulations.Thesechanges,alongwithotherproposedactionstoreducewildwolfmortalityandincreasebreeding,arepredictedtohaveahighprobabilityofachievingthestatedUSFWSprogramgoaltomaintainatleast80%ofgenediversity(GD)for125yearsinboththeSSPandwildpopulations(Faustetal.2016).Additionally,bymanagingthesepopulationstogetheritispossibletomaintainafunctioningwildpopulationintherecoveryarea(Faustetal.2016).•Conductcommunitymeetingsandotheroutreachtofindpartnerstoassistinrecoveryeffortsonprivateaswellaspubliclands.StateandlocalgovernmentagenciesshouldtakeagreaterleadershiproleinsupportingtheAmericanredwolfrecovery.Stateagenciesandourpartnernon-governmentalorganizations(NGOs)arewellplacedforreachingouttolocalcommunitiestoaddresstheirconcernswhilealsosupportingtherecoveryeffort.AnexpandedandmoreparticipatoryapproachtocommunityoutreachisessentialtothesuccessofanyAmericanredwolfrecoveryinitiativeinthisregion.•SupporttargetededucationeffortsthatassistinunderstandingandappreciatingtheAmericanredwolfanditsnaturalhistory.Providetoolsforresidentstodistinguishredwolvesfromcoyotes,assuageconcernsaboutperceptionsofthethreatposedbyredwolvestopeopleandlivestock,andconveythepositiveeffectsasustainableAmericanredwolfpopulationcouldhaveonthelocalenvironment.
  8. u.s.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018Page6•CelebratetheAmericanredwolfinNorthCarolina.CurrentlyNorthCarolinaistheonlyplaceonearthAmericanredwolvescanbefoundinthewild.Aswithmanyrecoveryprogramsacrosstheworld,NorthCarolinacanembracetheuniquenessofthisspeciesandcelebrateitsexistencethroughpublicawarenesscampaignsandotherinitiatives.NorthCarolinaisknownforitsnaturalbeautyandtreasureddiversityfromthemountainstothesea.TheAmericanredwolfispartofthatdiversity.•Continuetoworkcooperativelyandcollaborativelywithallaffectedfederal,state,andlocalgovernmentagencies.TheNorthCarolinaDepartmentofNaturalandCulturalResourcesurgestheUnitedStateFishandWildlifeServicetorenewitscommitmenttoAmericanredwolfrecovery,andstandsreadytoassistinsuccessfullypreservingthisuniqueelementofournaturalheritage.Sincerely,SusiH.HamiltonSecretaryNCDepartmentofNaturalandCulturalResourcesAttachment
  9. u.s.FishandWildlifeServiceJuly30,2018AttachmentReferencesBartel,R.A.,andD.R.RabonJr.2013.Re-introductionandrecoveryoftheredwolf(Canisrufus)inthesoutheasternUSA.Pages107-115inP.Soorae,editor.Globalre-introductionperspectives.IUCN,Gland,Switzerland.Faust,L.,Zoo,L.P.,Harrison,R.,Waddell,U.W.,Zoo,P.D.,Long,A.S.,andTraylor-Holzer,K.2016.RedWolf(Canisrufus)PopulationViabilityAnalysis-FinalreportforUSFWSfeasibilitystudy.Gese,E.M.,F.F.Knowlton,J.R.Adams,K.Beck,T.K.Fuller,D.L.Murray,T.D.Steury,M.K.Stoskopf,W.T.Waddell,andL.P.Waits.2015.Managinghybridizationofarecoveringendangeredspecies:theredwolfCanisrufusasacasestudy.CurrentZoology61:191-203.Gese,E.M.,andP.A.Terletzky.2015.Usingthe"placeholder"concepttoreducegeneticintrogressionofanendangeredcarnivore.BiologicalConservation192:11-19.Hinton,J.W.,White,G.C.,Rabon,D.R.andChamberlain,M.J.2017.Survivalandpopulationsizeestimatesoftheredwolf.TheJournalofWildlifeManagement,81:417-428.Simonis,J.L.,Harrison,R.B.,Long,S.T.,RabonJr,D.R.,Waddell,W.T.,andFaust,L.J.2018.Managedmovementincreasesmetapopulationviabilityoftheendangeredredwolf.TheJournalofWildlifeManagement,82:573-582.Stoskopf,M.K.,K.Beck,B.B.Fazio,T.K.Fuller,E.M.Gese,B.T.Kelly,F.F.Knowlton,D.L.Murray,W.Waddell,andL.Waits.2005.Implementingrecoveryoftheredwolf:integratingresearchscientistsandmanagers.WildlifeSocietyBulletin33:1145-1152.U.S.FishandWildlifeService[USFWS].2007.RedWolf5-YearStatusReview:SummaryandEvaluation.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Manteo,NorthCarolina,USA.U.S.FishandWildlifeService[USFWS].2014.RedWolfRecoveryProgramSecondQuarterlyReport,January-March2014.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Manteo,NorthCarolina,USA.UnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService[USFWS].2016.Recommendeddecisionsinresponsetoredwolfrecoveryprogramevaluation.Memorandum,September12.USFWS,Atlanta,Georgia,USA.U.S.FishandWildlifeService[USFWS].2018.RedWolf5-YearStatusReview.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Manteo,NorthCarolina,USA.Waples,R.S.,Kays,R.,Fredrickson,R.J.,Pacifici,K.,andMills,L.S.2018.IstheredwolfalistableunitundertheUSEndangeredSpeciesAct.JournalofHeredity109:585-597.
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