The Shelburne, Mass., canid shot in October last year was an eastern gray wolf, according to Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Healy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Northeast Region.
; The Services National Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Ore., examined the wolf, doing both genetic and morphological examinations, according to Healy. Forensic scientists compared the Shelburne canids DNA to DNA from wolves of known origin and concluded that the individual was an eastern gray wolf. Their structural comparison concluded that the animal was consistent with gray wolf and inconsistent with coyote, domestic dog and wolf-dog hybrids.
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; "We have no indication that this wolf was ever held in captivity," Healy said. "But what we dont know about this wolfs origins far outweighs what we do know."
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; A Shelburne farmer notified Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in mid-October that an apparent canid had killed and partially consumed lambs on his property. The following day, the canid was killed on the farmers property. MassWildlife conducted an initial necropsy, determining that the animal was male, weighed 85 pounds, and the stomach contents included remains of lamb. A wolf researcher from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst also examined the carcass and concluded that it was most likely a wolf.
The Endangered Species Act protects wolves in most of the United States. The gray wolf was extirpated from Massachusetts by the mid-1800s. The closest known wolf population to Massachusetts is in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Information about gray wolves may be found at http://www.fws.gov/endangered Copyright-free downloadable photos may be found at http://images.fws.gov
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
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