Three More Wolves Killed Near Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge

Three gray wolves were recently killed in two separate incidents near Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota. One wolf was killed on approximately January 29 on the east side of Eckvoll Wildlife Management Area. This male was the Alpha or dominant male of the Golden Valley Pack which occupies the east side of the Agassiz refuge. It appeared the wolf had been run over by a snowmobile near the edge of the state-owned Eckvoll Wildlife Management Area which adjoins Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers had been following this wolf since July 18, 1997. Its mate was the female wolf that was shot last November southeast of the refuge.

The other two wolves were shot on private land south of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. These wolves were killed on February 2. Both of these male wolves were pups radio-collared in August of 1997 as part of the Elm Lake Pack. Both of these incidents are under investigation. People with information regarding these incidents are asked to call a federal agent at 218-720-5357, a state conservation officer at 218-523-5131, or Turn In Poachers at 1-800-652-9093. Information will be kept confidential and callers can remain anonymous. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the individuals involved.

The fine for taking (killing) a threatened species within the United States is $25,000 and/or six months in federal prison. The radio-collared wolves are part of a research project at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge investigating how wolves use the refuge and surrounding lands and their role in livestock depredation in the surrounding area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov