Another red wolf has been killed in Eastern Carolina.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says the latest death was reported last Friday, north of Creswell, near the Washington and Tyrrell county line. They believe the red wolf was shot.
This is the third death of the federally protected animal since September. Red wolves have also been found dead near Belhaven in Beaufort County on October 12th and another near Creswell on September 4th.
Killing a red wolf is a federal crime, punishable up to a year in prison and $100,000 in fines.
The feds are offering a reward up to $2,500 for information on all three deaths. All of the wolves were wearing radio-collars so their movement could be tracked.
The feds say after being nearly extinct, a re-population program now has about 100 red wolves roaming their native habitats in five counties in northeastern North Carolina.