Five red wolf pups die after their father was hit by vehicle

MANTEO, N.C. (WITN/Gray News) - Five red wolf pups have died after their father was hit by a vehicle.

The red wolf was killed earlier this at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Dare County, North Carolina, along U.S. 64.

Federal officials confirmed Tuesday that the five pups had died as a result.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, red wolves mate for life and raise their young together. Therefore, they believe the pups’ mother was likely unable to feed them on her own following the father’s death.

There are less than 20 red wolves still alive in the wild, and they reportedly all live at the refuge.

The Center for Biological Diversity is advocating for wildlife crossings to be built on U.S. 64.

The center is leading a campaign to build the crossings, and a fundraising deadline has been extended to Oct. 31.

So far, more than $1 million has been raised toward the goal of $2 million which they say will be matched by an anonymous donor.

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