“STEVENSVILLE – A 2-year-old wolf tracked from Oregon east through Idaho and Montana’s Big Hole Valley has been illegally shot and killed in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana wildlife officials said Thursday.
The male, fitted with a GPS collar in Oregon a year ago, was found dead near a road between Sawmill Saddle and Ambrose Saddle in upper Haacke Creek last Saturday, May 31.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say GPS data provided an estimated time of death between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The wolf had arrived in the Bitterroot Valley earlier in May.
The animal’s killing is considered an illegal poaching, according to FWP.
Agency officials asked anyone with information about the incident to call 1-800-847-6668. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 for providing information that leads to a conviction.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy said that her agency was aware of the wolf’s death, but was leaving the investigation to Montana authorities.
“It was a wolf of the Snake River Pack, which lives on the border with Idaho,” Dennehy said late Thursday. “We designated that one OR18. He was a subadult male when he was collared in March 2013.”
Dennehy said several Oregon wolves have dispersed from their home packs, including OR18. And like OR18, most head east toward Idaho and Montana where larger wolf populations can be found. The Snake River Pack is a relatively new group, having been first identified two years ago.”
**Special thanks to Ravalli Republic, http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_fe3411ce-ed1f-11e3-bd22-001a4bcf887a.html, for providing this information!
The Wolf Preservation Blog 
Oh please! As if Montana really cares if a wolf is killed