The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995              TAG: 9504120447
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: RALEIGH                            LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

OPPONENTS CALL RED-WOLF POLL BIASED THEY CLAIM POLLSTERS IGNORED DEFECTS OF THE RELEASE PROGRAM.

Eastern North Carolina residents opposed to reintroducing red wolves say a survey that shows support for the program is one-sided.

The survey by N.C. State University found that 51.7 percent of the people contacted by telephone supported the wolf release, while 30.2 percent were opposed.

Red wolves, an endangered species, have been released in a five-county area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the past seven years. The service funded the survey.

The program has encountered criticism from residents who say that the wolves destroy other animals and that the program restricts use of property.

``These survey results are based only on the information given by the Fish and Wildlife Service. We're getting ready to tell the other side,'' said H.W. ``Butch'' Raynor III, a Belhaven attorney.

Three wolves have been intentionally shot and killed in the last year; the legislature passed a law allowing landowners in Hyde and Washington counties to kill them if they were threatening people or livestock, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.

The 31-question survey was directed in early February by graduate student Kim Quintal. Barnes Research of Grand Rapids, Mich., conducted the interviews from a random sample of telephone numbers generated by computer.

Quintal said she is still evaluating responses and the survey should not be read as a clear-cut victory for either side.

Of 600 people interviewed in Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties, 310 supported the wolf program and 181 opposed it. The remaining 109 residents had no opinion.

The poll had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

According to the survey, support for the program varies in the five counties.

Hyde County: oppose 48.8 percent; support 39 percent.

Dare County: oppose 10 percent; support 77.5 percent.

Beaufort County: oppose 33.1 percent; support 48.3 percent.

Tyrrell County: oppose 27 percent; support 48.4 percent.

Washington County: oppose 31 percent; support 44.8 percent.

KEYWORDS: POLL SURVEY RED WOLVES RED WOLF NORTH CAROLINA by CNB