Saturday, April 15, 2017

Yellowstone Park's white wolf found severely injured, had to be killed

One of Yellowstone National Park's well-known white wolves was found severely injured this week and had to be killed, park rangers said. The female wolf was part of the park's Canyon Pack. She was one of three white wolves known to live within the park. Her coat color made her easy to spot, and hikers and tourists were often able to catch a glimpse of her or get a photo. Hikers this week found the injured wolf inside the park, near Gardiner, Mont. Park staff said they found the animal to be in shock and dying from her injuries. "Staff on scene agreed the animal could not be saved due to the severity of its injuries. The decision was made to kill the animal and investigate the cause of the initial trauma," P.J. White, chief of the Wildlife and Aquatic Resources Branch, said in a statement released today by the park. What caused the wolf's injuries is not known. A necropsy is being done as part of the investigation. "This wolf lived to 12 years, twice the age of an average wolf in the park, and had a broad range that extended from Hayden Valley to the Firehole River area to the northern portion of the park...more

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