5 Endangered Animals Fighting For Survival In North Carolina
North Carolina, home to the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coastal plains, is a land of natural diversity. Whether it is Mount Mitchell, the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi River, or the scenic Atlantic Ocean’s coastline, there are endless geographic features to see. These not only promote flora, but also house hundreds of species of fauna.
From mammals like the carnivorous red wolf with its hunting prowess to the Atlantic sturgeon underwater, many animals call this state home. That said, both of these species, and many others, have fallen prey to habitat loss, climate change, and hunting, leading to a dangerous decline in populations. The following five are some of the most resilient yet endangered animals fighting for survival in North Carolina.
Red Wolf (Canis rufus)
The red wolf is a canine found across the southeastern United States. However, it was once more vastly spread throughout the south-central United States and even in southern Canada. Their populations began to decline in the mid-1900s due to predator control programs and habitat destruction, leading to a stark drop by the late 1960s. In 1973, the red wolf was named an "endangered species" under the Endangered Species Act, yet saw further population loss from 130 to 15 wolves between 2010 and 2020 in North Carolina.
Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ramped up work on the Red Wolf Recovery Program, which aims to relocate breeding pairs, sterilize challenging coyotes, and increase education and outreach. Moreover, aiding organizations are helping to arrange health checks and 24-hour live streaming cameras near the habitat. In an aim to have as many hands as possible, there is also the Prey for the Pack program, which provides private landowners in North Carolina with technical and financial aid to improve their properties for red wolves.
These medium-sized canines reach a length of around 65 inches (165 centimeters) and weigh around 64 pounds (29 kilograms). They prefer to live in thick wooded areas and along stream banks and mostly eat rabbits, rodents, and white-tailed deer. As of 2025, there are approximately 270 red wolves in captive breeding programs and a few dozen in the wild.
Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Often considered a living fossil, the Atlantic sturgeon is native to the Atlantic Ocean and can be found along the coast of North Carolina. According to some researchers, this marine animal has been around since the Cretaceous period, making them over 120 million years old. The average specimen is quite large, reaching an average length of 8 feet (2.4 meters), with the longest known sturgeon being double this length. Moreover, they live alone or in small groups with a wide range of depth, being found as deep as 160 feet (49 meters) underwater. With their sturdy build and strong bodies, the Atlantic sturgeon was dominant during the 17th century, but overfishing and habitat degradation (dams and pollution) began their decline. Even with a long lifespan of 60 years, they are now threatened, and dams such as that on North Carolina’s Cape Fear River make the situation worse.
As of 2025, North Carolina prohibits the harvest of Atlantic sturgeon entirely. Any fish caught accidentally must be released immediately. The state also manages the species through the North Carolina Fishery Management Plan for Interjurisdictional Fisheries, which follows guidelines set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. This plan focuses on protecting spawning rivers, reducing bycatch in commercial nets, and monitoring populations through tagging and research. On top of that, NOAA has designated stretches of the Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Roanoke rivers as critical habitat, ensuring that federal projects in these waters consider sturgeon survival.
Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander (Aneides caryaensis)
Back on land, the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander is a rare species of lungless salamander found in the Hickory Nut Gorge of North Carolina. Due to its limited habitat, within the 20,000-acre, 14-mile-long gorge, the salamander is quite restricted, which has been a major hindrance to population maintenance. First discovered in 2019 as a separate species, it only has around two dozen known populations with an estimated 250 individuals. Along with its distribution, construction in the area, tourism, and real estate development have hindered the growth of these amphibians. To this end, the species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and many organizations are attempting to help them thrive. In North Carolina, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a species status assessment aimed at devising a plan for the salamander. That said, Hurricane Helene in 2022 damaged the gorge, and the exact loss to the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander is yet to be ascertained.
Unlike many salamanders, this species has a slender body and flattened head that allow it to slip easily into narrow rock crevices, where it spends much of its life hidden from view. Adults are small, usually only about 3 to 5 inches long (7.5 to 12.5 centimeters), with dark skin speckled by bright green patches that help camouflage them against mossy stone. As a lungless salamander, it breathes entirely through its skin and the lining of its mouth, which means it requires consistently moist environments to survive.
Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
The Carolina northern flying squirrel is a subspecies of the northern flying squirrel, the only flying squirrel on the continent of North America. This species came to be during the last ice age, when cold weather and ice sheets forced animals to high peaks, such as the Appalachians. Squirrels were one of them, and the isolated high-altitude environment led to the birth of this subspecies, found in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The average adult is about 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) long and weighs less than 6 ounces (170 grams). Their lightweight is what allows them to “fly,” or glide through the air, although this has made them less adept at walking. Most flying squirrels are nocturnal and feed on fungi and plants. While the larger species is not endangered, the Carolina northern flying squirrel has seen an immense loss of habitat due to logging and forest fires in southern Appalachia. Diseases such as beech bark disease and further privatization of land also reduce the trees in which these mammals burrow.
To counter this, North Carolina has listed the species as “Endangered” and a nongame animal with no hunting or trapping season. People living at high altitudes (above 5,000 feet) who may have one of these squirrels in or near their home can call the NC Wildlife Helpline to identify and ensure the safety of the individual. Moreover, NCWRC biologists are taking advantage of the high-frequency signals that these squirrels communicate in by using ultrasound detectors to find and document them. They are also working in coordination with the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative to restore the forests that these small animals call home.
Carolina Gopher Frog (Lithobates capito capito)
The Carolina gopher frog is a species of frog part of the family Ranidae, which also includes the bullfrog and bronze frog. This subspecies is similar to toads in appearance, with warty skin and a hefty body. Carolina gophers range from grey to black with dark spots, and their belly is often of a darker pigment. The average adult will be around 2.4 to 3.5 inches (6 to 9 cm) long, and prefers living near flatwoods and ponds. In North Carolina, these frogs are found in the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain area, where they can burrow into the soil to hide.
The Carolina gopher frog has suffered dramatic losses in North Carolina, pressured by habitat destruction, drought, and disease. Once found in about thirty populations statewide, only seven remain today, putting the species at high risk of local extinction. To counter this decline, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission partnered with the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and later the NC Zoo in head-starting programs. Egg masses are collected in the wild, hatched, and raised to froglets before being released back into their native ponds. Since 2015, more than 3,000 frogs have been released, with success rates often above 90 percent, offering hope that the species can rebuild its fragile numbers.
Five Endangered Animals Fighting For Survival In North Carolina
From wolves and sturgeon to salamanders, squirrels, and frogs, North Carolina’s endangered animals tell the story of resilience and human effort. Each recovery program, whether protecting rivers or restoring forests, reflects the state’s commitment to conserving its unique wildlife. These species are not only part of the ecosystem but also part of North Carolina’s natural heritage. Safeguarding them today ensures that future generations will still find red wolves roaming woodlands, sturgeon swimming coastal rivers, and gopher frogs echoing across quiet ponds.
