Reward offered for information on who shot well known wolf

National Park Service law enforcement is offering a reward for information about a well known female white wolf that was shot sometime between April 10 and 11. Law enforcement is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

The wolf was found wounded April 11 inside Yellowstone National Park and had to be put down because of the severity of the wolf’s wounds. A necropsy was performed on the animal at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon.

National Park Service law enforcement believes the wolf was shot on the north side of the park, near Gardiner, or near the Old Yellowstone Trail which is located in the park on the northern boundary. The incident likely occurred sometime between April 10 at 1 a.m. and April 11 at 2 p.m.

“Due to the serious nature of this incident, a reward of up to $5,000.00 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for this criminal act,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk.

If you have information about this incident that could help with this investigation, please contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB). Tips can also be confidential. Tips can be submitted the following ways.

CALL the ISB Tip Line 888-653-0009 TEXT to 202-379-4761 ONLINE www.nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip” EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov MESSAGE via Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS

This wolf was one of three known white wolves in the park. She 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. As the alpha female for over nine years with the same alpha male, she had at least 20 pups, 14 of which lived to be yearlings. She was one of the most recognizable wolves and sought after by visitors to view and photograph.