Feds probe N MN. wolf killings

[Lee Borgersen]

Feds probe northern Minn. wolf killings, offer reward for information

Updated 3:35 p.m. | Posted 2:05 p.m.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information tied to the illegal killing of three gray wolves in northern Minnesota.

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The wolves were discovered last month dead off the road off Minnesota Highway 8 near Floodwood, about 45 miles west of Duluth, agency spokesperson Tina Shaw said. "We'd love the public's help in closing the case."

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It's illegal to kill a wolf in Minnesota except in self-defense. Otherwise it can lead to six months in jail and a fine of up to $25,000. A federal judge placed Great Lakes wolves back under endangered species protection in December 2014.

"The wolf carcasses were discovered in a pile in the ditch just off the shoulder of the road, as though someone had driven up and dumped them off the edge of the shoulder," Shaw said.

A USFWS agent told Shaw they were frozen solid and in perfect condition. "There's a good chance that they were dumped there the night before they were called in," on Jan. 22, she added.

Evidence supports that the wolves were killed elsewhere and purposely moved to where they were found, she said. "There appear to be marks from a snare on the necks of the wolves," Shaw said.

The wolves were taken to the USFWS wildlife forensics lab in Ashland, Ore., for testing.

Rewards have led to arrests in the past, Shaw noted. People with information should call the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Turn in Poachers TIP line 1-800-652-9093.



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for information related to the illegal killing of three gray wolves in northern Minnesota.

 
Here, a gray wolf rests in the snow north of Duluth in March 2013.

                           


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[Lee Borgersen]

  ......Brief update!

Multiple rewards offered in 'heinous' wolf poaching case

 Breaking News Alert!

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday called for the public's help in the investigation of the illegal killing of three wolves found off Highway 8 near Floodwood.

 
Working in conjunction with conservation officers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the USFWS seeks information related to the killings of three gray wolves found together in January.

Evidence has been gathered from the scene and a criminal investigation is currently underway, the USFWS said.

A reward of up to $2,500 is available for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the responsible parties.

In addition to the USFWS's reward offer, The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust offered a reward of up to $5,000 for "information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible." The HSUS deemed it a "thrill kill" in a release Friday.

The wolves appeared to have snare marks on their necks and evidence indicated they may have been killed elsewhere and dumped near the road, possibly the night before the DNR received the report, the Humane Society release said. The bodies were sent to USFWS's forensics lab in Oregon to determine how the animals were killed.

"There is no excuse for deliberately killing three members of a threatened species and discarding the animals like litter along the road for all to see," Christine Coughlin, Minnesota state director for The HSUS, said in the release. "The poacher responsible has callously wasted the lives of these wolves and removed them from their pack during breeding season, which can cause serious disruption in pack structure. We're hopeful this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this heinous crime."

The gray wolf is currently listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened in Minnesota. Killing a gray wolf is a violation of the Act, punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to $25,000.

 
Those with information on the case are asked to call the DNR's Turn in Poachers line at 800-652-9093.

[greatoutdoors]

An example of vigilante justice, but Couldn't Federal Judge Beryl Howell (sp.??),  Help Our Wolves Live attorney Maureen Hackett, and others involved in putting the Wolf back on the protected list see this coming??   

[Cody Gruchow]

It's simple. People will take it into there own hands. This city folks that cry for these wolves don't have a slight idea of what these wolves are doing to the Deer and moose. All but destroyed the top half of the states deer herd. Not account for the moose being wiped out on top of it. Then people's herds of cattle will be next along with even more pets then they will move on to people and the easiest prey of all small children. And sadly it will be a child that gets hurt or killed before the courts will over turn the ridiculous Ruling of putting them back on the list when they are not endangered anymore