Notice of Termination of the Red Wolf Reintroduction Project in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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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.