Plymouth in Washington County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Return of a Native
The red wolf once roamed the entire southeastern United States. But centuries of persecution and habitat destruction decimated the population. By 1980, this magnificent predator was no longer found in the wild. However, thanks to recovery efforts carried out under the federal Endangered Species Act, red wolves are back and thriving in the woods of northeastern North Carolina.
1967 Red wolf declared an endangered species.
1973 Scientists begin to capture the last red wolves for captive breeding.
1980 Red wolf declared extinct in the wild.
1987 Four pairs of captive-bred wolves released in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina the first-ever reintroduction of an extinct species to the wild.
1988 First litter of red wolf pups born in the wild in almost a decade.
2004 55 pups born in 18 red wolf packs.
Today, more than 100 red wolves live in a recovery area that now encompasses 1.5 million wild acres not far from the bustling barrier islands of the Outer Banks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.
Location.
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Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of Plymouth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Plymouth Massacre (approx. 0.7 miles away); Naval Action (approx. Ύ mile away); Fort Compher Battlefield
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ransom's Assault (was approx. half a mile away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 15, 2025
5. Nearby signage
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 23, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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