The litter of five highly endangered wolves was born in Eastern North Carolina in April. Their father was killed by a car on US 64 in June.

A litter of five red wolf pups died in eastern North Carolina after their father was struck and killed by a vehicle in June, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, delivering the latest blow in the effort to reestablish one of the nation’s most endangered species in the wild.

Only about 20 red wolves remain in the wild, all living on national wildlife refuge land west of the Outer Banks.

Five red wolf pups have The red wolf was killed earlier this at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Dare County, North Carolina, along U.S. 64. Federal officials confirmed Tuesday that the five pups had died as a result.

Five red wolf pups are dead in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina after a vehicle struck and killed their father in June, the Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed Tuesday.