Judge halts night-hunting of coyotes with lights in 5 eastern North Carolina counties

Injunction comes one week after fourth protected red wolf is found shot

A Wake County superior court judge has granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the taking of coyotes at night with the aid of lights in five counties in eastern North Carolina, one week after a red wolf was found killed – the fourth such killing since the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission passed a temporary rule allowing night-hunting for coyotes in July.

The injunction is in effect in Dare, Tyrrell, Hyde, Washington and Beaufort counties, the only location in the world where red wolves are free roaming. The population has been estimated at around 100 animals.

The latest red wolf killed was found Nov. 14 in Hyde County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information pertaining to the killing of red wolves, a protected species that were reintroduced to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987.

Paul Ridgeway, a Wake County superior court judge, issued the preliminary injunction after a complaint filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Red Wolf Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Welfare Institute. According to the Commission, the order does not prevent taking of wildlife, including coyotes and red wolves, while in the act of depredation. It does not affect hunting feral swine at night with the aid of a light.

Interbreeding with coyotes is recognized as posing a threat to the red wolf population, and officials have trapped, and spayed or neutered coyotes in common habitats to help prevent this. Because red wolves are most active at night, there is concern with the recent change in regulations for hunting coyotes.

Because the red wolf is treated as a non-essential experimental species they do not receive the same treatment as an endangered species, although they are listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act, but a red wolf taken illegally could lead to one year imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine.

The first red wolf apparently killed by gunshot was found in Tyrrell County in September. Another was found on Oct. 12h in Beaufort County, and the third was found Nov. 2 near the border between Tyrrell and Washington County border.

Red wolves and coyotes can be hard to distinguish, especially at night, and both wolves and coyotes may be wearing radio collars. If a red wolf is taken by mistake, it is recommended to notify wildlife enforcement officers and turn the carcass and collar in to officials.