What does a red wolf on private land mean to the landowner?
All wild red wolves are classified as “experimental nonessential” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This designation is not intended to have an effect on individual landowner rights. In fact, legally designated habitat cannot be established for experimental nonessential species under the ESA. In the case of livestock or domestic pet depredation, relaxed regulations were passed in 1995, which allow landowners to take (kill) red wolves while depredation is occurring, provided that freshly wounded livestock or pets are evident. There are also mechanisms for landowners to be monetarily compensated if they choose to become involved with red wolf recovery. Approximately 60% of the red wolf population can be found on private lands within the recovery area. Red wolves generate benefits for landowners by preying on species such as deer, raccoons and nutria that can be pests on farms. Additionally, the presence of a pack of red wolves is likely to limit the distribution of coyotes in that
