MANTEO, N.C. (AP) - State and federal wildlife officials are looking into the death of a red wolf in northeastern North Carolina, the second found dead in 2014.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday the radio-collared red wolf was found with an apparent gunshot wound on March 11 southwest of Creswell in Washington County.
Last year, nine of the 14 red wolves killed died of apparent gunshot wounds.
There are only about 100 red wolves roaming five northeastern counties where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been trying to restore the animals in the wild.
The red wolf in North Carolina is protected under the Endangered Species Act as an experimental, non-essential population, meaning relaxed regulations allow landowners to kill a red wolf if it attacks their livestock or pets.
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