Western Washington wolf killed by vehicle had also been shot

Don JenkinsCapital Press

Published: September 25, 2015 

A wolf struck and killed last spring on Interstate 90 in Western Washington has been previously suffered a gunshot wound.

A gray wolf struck and killed by a vehicle last spring on Interstate 90 near North Bend, Wash., had suffered an earlier gunshot wound to a rear leg, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said today.
The adult female, the first confirmed wolf in decades to venture west of the Washington Cascades, was apparently hit by a truck April 27 west of Snoqualmie Pass.

Wildlife officials suspected the animal was a wolf, but held off positively identifying the species pending a forensic investigation by the USFWS laboratory in Ashland, Ore.
The carcass underwent tests to determine how the animal died and to confirm the species, according to USFWS.
The genetic analysis was completed in September, according to the agency.


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