TO THE EDITOR:
As The Daily Tar Heel has noted, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently decided to transform the Red Wolf Recovery Program to focus on captive, not wild, wolves.
This is not valid morally or scientifically. If we were to consider the problem ecologically, we would have a number of much better paths of action, like gaining support from local landowners. Instead, the FWS has decided to go the easy route.
But we’ve been transforming these wolves’ habitat for years, pushing them into the margins and now almost to extinction. It’s about time for us to restrict ourselves a little bit and rewild those areas that were lost.
The FWS chose to focus on captive populations because this poses no real challenge to industrial development and habitation of or near natural areas. But we would do well to remember that we need wild nature just as much as the red wolves do, for moral, economic and scientific reasons.
For example, a (non-local) piece of art featured a bee saying, “If we go down, we’re taking you with us.” Isn’t it time to recognize the truth of this sentiment, that our invasions have consequences?
If you are interested in this topic, a film and panel on the red wolves will take place on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Hanes Art Auditorium 121.
It will feature representatives of major conservation organizations like The Wildlands Network and Defenders of Wildlife.
Let’s keep red wolves wild!
