DNA of gray wolf killed in Utah to be tested against DNA of wolf spotted in northern Arizona

Published December 30, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY Federal wildlife officials will compare the DNA of a gray wolf accidently shot in Utah with that of a wolf spotted wandering near the Grand Canyon this year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Steve Segin, a Denver-based spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service, said in an email Monday night that officials won't speculate if the 3-year-old female northern gray wolf killed Sunday is the same female gray wolf seen roaming the Grand Canyon and nearby national forest months ago.

Messages seeking additional details were not immediately returned Tuesday.

The Grand Canyon wolf was the first spotted in northern Arizona in more than 70 years.

Scat collected from that wolf will be compared with the animal killed in Utah.

Utah wildlife officials announced Monday afternoon that a coyote hunter accidently shot the young wolf in the southwest area of the state after mistaking it for a coyote.

State and federal officials said they're still investigating and it's too soon to say what penalties the hunter could face for killing the animal, which is protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources spokesman Mark Martinez said the hunter, who has not been identified, contacted the agency after realizing the error.

Martinez said the hunter was legally allowed to hunt coyotes, which are not protected in Utah.

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DNA of gray wolf killed in Utah to be tested against DNA of wolf spotted in northern Arizona