Locksley
Well-Known Member
Wolves in Illinois and Indiana?
In January 2003, Agents responded to routine information that a wolf was possibly shot and killed near Peoria, IL. Since wolves were believed to have been extirpated from Illinois and the last confirmed sighting was more than 100 years ago, Agents were shocked when photos of a large canine surfaced that appeared to be of a wolf that had been shot and killed by a local coyote hunter in Marshall County, IL.
SA Matthew Bryant conducted the investigation and determined that the canine had been shot on 12/29/02 by a hunter who had been searching for this particular animal, noting that the locals had been reportedly seeing a large coyote in the area. SA Bryant recovered the carcass and skull and forwarded the evidence to the National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab for species identification. The hide was recovered and seized from a tannery.
Lab results confirmed that this canine was a 92 lb. gray wolf that did indeed wander into Central Illinois. According to the lab analysis, this wolf was believed to have originated from the Great Lakes population located in Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. It is uncertain if more wolves exist in Illinois, however, the Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are planning to take a proactive approach and advise hunters that wolves may be back in Illinois. To date, no charges have been filed in the investigation.
On 6/27/03, officers in Indiana were notified that a wolf bearing ear transmitter tag 409M was found dead in a field located in Randolph County, IN. Wolf 409M was a young gray wolf that originated from the Wildcat Mound Pack in Jackson County, WI where it was captured as a pup on 8/10/02 by Service biologists. The carcass recovered in Indiana indicates that the wolf traveled approximately 420 miles from his capture sight and may have passed through the Chicago area during his travels.
The investigation of Wolf 409M is being conducted by SA Larry Harris. The recovered carcass has been sent to the Forensics lab for species confirmation and cause of death. Results of the analysis are still pending.
http://www.fwoa.org/news/fwoanws32b.html
In January 2003, Agents responded to routine information that a wolf was possibly shot and killed near Peoria, IL. Since wolves were believed to have been extirpated from Illinois and the last confirmed sighting was more than 100 years ago, Agents were shocked when photos of a large canine surfaced that appeared to be of a wolf that had been shot and killed by a local coyote hunter in Marshall County, IL.
SA Matthew Bryant conducted the investigation and determined that the canine had been shot on 12/29/02 by a hunter who had been searching for this particular animal, noting that the locals had been reportedly seeing a large coyote in the area. SA Bryant recovered the carcass and skull and forwarded the evidence to the National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab for species identification. The hide was recovered and seized from a tannery.
Lab results confirmed that this canine was a 92 lb. gray wolf that did indeed wander into Central Illinois. According to the lab analysis, this wolf was believed to have originated from the Great Lakes population located in Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. It is uncertain if more wolves exist in Illinois, however, the Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are planning to take a proactive approach and advise hunters that wolves may be back in Illinois. To date, no charges have been filed in the investigation.
On 6/27/03, officers in Indiana were notified that a wolf bearing ear transmitter tag 409M was found dead in a field located in Randolph County, IN. Wolf 409M was a young gray wolf that originated from the Wildcat Mound Pack in Jackson County, WI where it was captured as a pup on 8/10/02 by Service biologists. The carcass recovered in Indiana indicates that the wolf traveled approximately 420 miles from his capture sight and may have passed through the Chicago area during his travels.
The investigation of Wolf 409M is being conducted by SA Larry Harris. The recovered carcass has been sent to the Forensics lab for species confirmation and cause of death. Results of the analysis are still pending.
http://www.fwoa.org/news/fwoanws32b.html
