Race Day Live RALEIGH — The Federal Highway Administration has awarded a $25 million grant to North Carolina to build wildlife crossings along U.S. 64.
These crossings aim to protect critically endangered red wolves, of which only 16 remain in the wild. Vehicle collisions are currently the top cause of death for these wolves.
The grant will fund 13 underpasses beneath U.S. 64, a highway that runs through the main red wolf habitats. An additional $4 million was raised through private donations from organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity, Wildlands Network, and an anonymous donor.
“These crossings will save both human lives and the world’s most endangered wolves,” said Will Harlan from the Center for Biological Diversity. He thanked supporters for giving red wolves a chance to survive.
Once widespread across eastern North America, red wolves nearly went extinct by 1960. A captive breeding program and the 1987 reintroduction of wolves into the wild helped increase their population. At its peak, over 120 red wolves roamed the wild.
However, the recovery program was paused in 2015, causing the population to drop to just seven. The program resumed in 2020, but challenges remain, including the need for more crossings and reintroduction sites.
The N.C. Department of Transportation led the grant application in collaboration with other agencies and the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina.
Donnie Rahnàwakęw McDowell from the Tuscarora Nation said these crossings will not only protect wildlife but also reconnect people with nature.
Vehicle collisions have killed four red wolves in the past 15 months, including key breeding males who had sired pups.
These losses have severely impacted the species’ survival. The crossings are also expected to protect other animals like otters, bobcats, deer, turtles, and black bears.
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Wildlife crossings benefit people too. Collisions with animals kill over 200 people annually in the U.S. and cause $10 billion in damages. Studies show that crossings can reduce such incidents by 97%.
To secure the federal grant, an anonymous donor pledged $2 million as a matching challenge. With the help of over 13,000 individual donors, organizations raised the needed funds.
Red wolves currently live in northeastern North Carolina, near the Outer Banks. U.S. 64 is a busy route with over 11,800 vehicles daily during summer. The new structures are expected to make the road safer for both wildlife and tourists heading to the beaches.
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