This photo posted on KentuckyHunting.net shows the first wolf to wander Kentucky in over 150 years, dead and exhibited as a trophy.
“According to a recent announcement by state wildlife officials, a 73-pound, federally endangered female gray wolf was shot dead by a hunter in Munfordville, Kentucky earlier this year. Were it Alaska or Idaho this wouldn’t be news, but Kentucky has not seen wild roaming wolves since the mid 1800s. The gray wolf was shot in March —but state officials were skeptical that it was even a wolf, believing that it was more likely someone’s German shepherd. But following months of DNA analysis, scientists confirmed it was indeed Kentucky’s first wolf in over a century and also its last.
DNA from the wolf was analyzed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Wildlife Research Center in Colorado. According to the analysis, the Kentucky gray wolf had genetic traits akin to wolves in the Great Lakes Region. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Oregon carried out independent analysis and confirmed the USDA’s findings.
How the wolf came to be in Kentucky is a mystery.
Wildlife officials identified the man who killed the wolf as Hart County resident James Troyer, who shot the animal believing it to be a coyote.
Its unlikely that charges will be brought against Troyer as, until now, there would have been no reason to believe that a wolf existed in Kentucky. However, state and federal law prohibits the possession of gray wolves, live or in parts, so officials took the pelt from Troyer.
Gray wolves are on the federal endangered species list, but following a controversial proclamation that wolves are “recovered” by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency has proposed to remove wolves from the list.”
**Special thanks to Russ McSpadden / Earth First! News, http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/wild-wolf-in-kentucky-first-in-150-years-killed-by-hunter/, for providing this information!
The Wolf Preservation Blog 
Not sure if you have seen this one, or not:
Young Mexican gray wolf dies during handling in Arizona
Sun-News report Posted: 08/20/2013 03:08:48 PM MDT
SILVER CITY >> A yearling Mexican gray wolf died over the weekend in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona during what Fish and Wildlife called “routine handling,” according to a news release from them. Members of the Mexican wolf interagency field team from the Arizona Game and Fish Department were conducting an intentional capture effort using the approved protocol to fit radio-telemetry collars on members of the Bluestem Pack that remained uncollared, when f1289, a previously collared animal, was captured in a padded foot trap.
The trap sent a signal when it sprung and experienced team members were on site within 15 minutes. The animal moved the trap into rocky terrain on the edge of a slope, making it difficult for the team to process the wolf. Using a catch pole and Y-pole (like those used for capturing and restraining domestic dogs), the team removed f1289 from the trap and during processing found that she was no longer breathing. Emergency treatment including CPR was unsuccessful in reviving the wolf.
The team on site had years of wolf capture experience and had just completed a refresher capture training course the week prior, the release states. The death was the third capture-related mortality in the wild in the 15-year history of the Mexican wolf reintroduction project, according to Fish and Wildlife.
“The loss of this wolf is a very
Thanks Ramona Coyote. Very sad story and I’m reposting it shortly.
This is heart breaking to me! This animal may have been DNA tested but it appears to look more like a Alaskn Husky to me which makes me wonder who’s pet this is?! Alaskan huskies along with Alaskan malamutes come from Alaska that is their native land and they have been breed down from wolves into our domesticated pets we love. So any generic testing that may have been done will still show wolf genetics because that’s where they originated from is the wolf breed.
I have an Alaskan husky as well as an Alaskan malamute the resemblance is astonishing, malamutes from a good stock can weigh up to 115-120 pounds but most range around 70-90 pounds. So now with a little information maybe befor people go on a wild wolf hunt maybe they should think could this be some ones pet oh one more fact of malamutes and huskies thou both are very loving to their owners they are both very Leary of people they don’t know so to all you out there remember this be for killing an animal what you may think to be wild may not be! Also do a but of research you will discover the genetics of the breeds of animals where they originate from and you will see more likely thank not this was some ones lost pet or possibly a pet that some idiot decided they no longer wanted and decided to drop it in the woods some where.
Please cross-post and forward: Deadline extended to Oct. 28, 2013 to make comments in opposition to government plan to DE-LIST GRAY WOLVES FROM ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE! ::
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-HQ-ES-2013-0073-19350
Reblogged this on " OUR WORLD".
WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!!!
the fact that he exhibited it “as a trophy” with such pride tells me he knew full well it wasn’t a coyote. A female, too. How incredibly heartbreaking. I wish they would throw the book at him. Clearly, he is going to say whatever he needs to say to save his ass. Also, did you notice that the US confiscated the pelt….also implying he had time to skin it. What a horror