Another reintroduced Yellowstone wolf found shot to death

The wolf, known as No. 11, was found Saturday in a remote ranching area near Meeteetse, Wyoming, not far from the park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Sharon Rose said. The wolf was part of a controversial plan to reintroduce the endangered species to Wyoming and Idaho.

"The matter has been referred to the U.S. attorney," Rose said, noting that killing a wolf is a federal offense because the animal is considered an endangered species. Shooting a wolf is only allowed if it is caught attacking livestock, Rose added.

A reintroduced wolf was found shot to death in early February, and a pup from a Yellowstone pack was found shot to death in November. In January 1995, a wolf was found shot to death on the ranch of Eugene Hussey.

So far, only one wolf killing has resulted in a conviction. In October, Montana carpenter Chad McKittrick was convicted of shooting a wolf to death last April.

Wildlife agents shot and killed a reintroduced wolf earlier this year after it returned again to prey on sheep near Yellowstone. And another reintroduced wolf died of natural causes in late March.

Details of how wolf No. 11 was found have not been released.

The most recent killing came just one day after a decision by a federal judge in Wyoming to deny a request to stop the federal government from releasing into the park 17 gray wolves captured this year in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Ranchers are challenging the program to relocate the wolves, claiming they will attack and kill livestock.

Meeteetse is where 18 black-footed ferrets were found in 1987 after scientists had believed them to be extinct.

This story written by Reuters correspondents