[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 195 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54151-54153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26841]


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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.

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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

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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. 98-26841 Filed 10-7-98; 8:45 am]
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