The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offers Reward After Male Wolf Found Shot and Killed
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information after determining that a male wolf that died last summer after it was captured for killing livestock had been shot before it was removed from the wild. This revelation comes after federal officials specified that the wolf, identified as 2309-OR, had suffered a gunshot wound that led to its decline in health and eventual death.
Wolf 2309-OR was one of 10 wolves released in December 2023 as part of Colorado’s voter-mandated wolf reintroduction program. The male wolf played a crucial role in establishing the Copper Creek pack, the first pack of reintroduced wolves in the state. Unfortunately, in August, the decision was made to remove the pack from the wild after the adult male wolf killed or injured multiple livestock animals near Kremmling.
It was during this capture process that officials discovered the gunshot wound that ultimately led to the wolf’s demise. The full necropsy report has not been made public, and the exact timing of when the wolf was shot remains unknown.
This incident marks the second time one of the reintroduced wolves was shot. Another wolf, 2307-OR, had also been shot in the leg prior to its death. Harassing, injuring, or killing a gray wolf in Colorado is a federal crime due to the species’ protected status under the Endangered Species Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is urging anyone with information about the shooting of wolf 2309-OR to come forward. They can contact the service’s wildlife crime hotline by phone at 844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477), by email at FWS_TIPS@fws.gov, or online at www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips.
It is important to remember that the protection of gray wolves in Colorado is crucial for the preservation of this endangered species. The loss of these two wolves is a stark reminder of the challenges they face in their natural habitat.
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