Wolf euthanized in Grand Teton Park
August 30, 2005
An injured wolf, located near the Elk Ranch reservoir in the northeast portion of Grand Teton National Park, was euthanized Monday morning, August 29. Park staff were notified of the injured wolf by a park employee, who was working in the area. The wolf was dragging its hind legs and appeared to be struggling to move. Due to the wolf’s extremely debilitated condition and apparent suffering, Mike Jimenez, U.S. Fish & Wildlife project leader for the Wolf Recovery Program in Wyoming, made the decision to euthanize the animal.
After rangers arrived at the wolf’s location and assessed its condition, they contacted Jimenez, who joined park staff at the scene and identified the wolf as an older male, grey in color, and emaciated, with worn teeth. The wolf did not have a radio collar, and it has not been determined whether it was a member of the Teton pack.
Jimenez will send the wolf carcass to an Ashland, Oregon forensics lab to determine a cause of death and rule out any possibility of an intentional kill.
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