THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504010276
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Local Briefs
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
A survey by North Carolina State University has found that more than half the residents of five eastern North Carolina counties support controversial efforts to reintroduce the red wolf in their region.
Of 600 people interviewed in Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties, 310, or 51.7 percent, said they supported the reintroduction of red wolves, while 181, or 30.2 per cent, said they opposed the idea. The remaining 109 residents had no opinion.
The 31-question survey was conducted in early February and was directed by Kim Quintal, a graduate student at the College of Forest Resources at N.C. State, under the supervision of Dr. Jan Laarman, professor of forestry.
Red wolves, an endangered species once common in eastern North Carolina, have been reintroduced to the five-county region by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the past seven years.
The area's red wolf population is now about 50. Some residents believe the wolves pose a threat to humans and livestock.
Hyde County residents registered the highest level of opposition, 48.8 percent, and the lowest level of support, 39 percent. Dare County residents voiced the highest level of support, 77.5 percent, and the lowest level of opposition, 10 percent. by CNB