Wildlife officials: Wolf pups likely died of natural causes
Officials say four wolf pups found dead last week in the Horse Creek area near Jackson likely died of natural causes.
The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman Mark Gocke says the agency won’t know for sure until they get the necropsies back from the lab.
Game and Fish officials initially said they could not release much information, citing a Wyoming statute that’s intended to protect the identity of people who legally kill wolves.
An area horse guide saw two of the puppies Thursday while leading a private ride and immediately reported them to authorities.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel arrived and found a third dead young wolf nearby as well as a fourth pup that was barely hanging on.
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ORIGINAL:
Authorities are releasing few details about four wolf pups that were found dead on public land south of Jackson.
The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman Mark Gocke could give no more details other than saying the pups were reported dead Thursday within Game and Fish’s “trophy game” wolf hunting area, where there are defined seasons and rules on killing wolves.
A Wyoming law prohibits wildlife managers from identifying anyone who legally kills a wolf – or releasing information that could lead to their identity being revealed.
The four wolf pups were born this year, so they would have been about 4 or 5 months old. They were taken to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie for necropsies.
