DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tests confirm that two wolves have been shot and killed in Iowa.
Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Friday that two large canines that were shot this winter in Osceola and Van Buren counties have been identified as wolves.
The wolves likely came from the Great Lakes region, including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Gray wolves are endangered, under both federal and state laws, but officials say no charges will be filed in the shootings. The Iowa DNR release said the wolves may have been mistaken as coyotes.
“Going forward, hunters need to know the difference between the species. On our end, we will provide additional wolf-coyote identification tools on our website and in our publications. We know hunters want to do the right thing and we want to help them,” said Chuck Gipp, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The wolves will be used for education outreach at local county conservation boards.
Officials say there has been a recent increase in the number of wolves moving to Iowa from the Great Lakes region.
