Red wolves are among the most endangered carnivores in the world. Once spread across the U.S. Southeast, these animals were persecuted with such intensity that in 1980 — after the capture of the last remaining red wolves for a captive-breeding program — the species was declared extinct in the wild Thankfully, the breeding program was a success and on this day 38 years ago red wolves were successfully released back into the wild. Yet today, fewer than 20 individuals remain and vehicle strikes are