The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service confirmed today in a press release that the wolf killed late last year in Utah was the Grand Canyon wolf that had been named Echo.
The Service used DNA analysis to determine that she was the wolf that had been made famous for her journey from the Northern Rockies to the Grand Canyon. She was identified by USFWS as 914F. She was collared in Wyoming on Jan. 8, 2014, and spotted in the Grand Canyon area in the fall of last year.
The UWFWS said in its release an investigation is ongoing into the killing of the wolf, though early reports indicated that the individual that shot her told state authorities he was hunting coyote and believed her to be such.
As Defenders of Wildlife noted in their statement, “coyote hunting in habitat frequented by wolves is deadly for wolves.”
Wolves are protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and killing them is a violation of that law. You can take action by asking the Obama administration to fully prosecute all killers of endangered species.
This tragic killing further illustrates the crucial need to continue to protect wolves in order for them to recover.
8 comments on “Wolf Killed in Utah Was Grand Canyon Wolf”
It is tragedy that “A few”, powered by money, greed and the love of murder, can kill everything that is cherished and precious to so many others, Wolves are supposed to be protected; yet this means nothing. Everything is for sale in this country, even predators that are unique, and vital to an ecosystem. The killing of Echo the Grand Canyon wolf was a terrible violation of the law and a true tragedy to conservation efforts. I urge you. To protect the vulnerable and be a voice for America’s voiceless animals.
I’m trying to fill in the form to email to my Senator regarding wolves. One of the required fields is “Title”
What title? The title of my email or a corporate title or Ms. or Mayor or what? I can’t send my email with the field blank.
Help.
That’s at the Congressional office’s asking, but they usually mean Ms/Mr/Mrs etc. Thanks!
By now everyone should know that we need the wolves in our parks, forests and generally all over. So some coward shot this special and historic wolf…. coward indeed. How do you feel now? Was it a thrill to kill this beautiful animal who has endured so much already?
Congress needs to act to protect our wolves. There are so many ways to protect them and livestock at farms and feed lots. Please put some effort into this – it’s worth it for us and the wolves.
I fully am for protecting these animals. Was so sad stricken when I read about this wolf.
Save these beautiful creatures. Killing is unnecessary and they serve a purpose like every other animal here on this earth.
As someone who has saw both, if you can’t tell a coyote from a wolf then you do not need to be hunting. They are both canines and that’s where the resemblance ends. IMO anyone who kills an endangered species should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law with no excuses or exceptions. Then maybe people would think twice before pulling the trigger if there were consequences to their actions. And this applies to more than just wolves.
It turned out that wolves are just the victims in the political game between the Obama administration and the Repuiblicans.