Attention wildlife enthusiasts and hunters alike! A startling discovery has been made in southern Michigan, where a hunter believed he had shot a large coyote in January. However, after a series of genetic tests, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed that the animal was, in fact, a gray wolf – a species that hasn’t been seen in this part of the state for over a century.
The hunter, accompanied by a guide, was participating in a legal coyote hunt in Calhoun County when he encountered the animal. The wolf weighed an impressive 84 pounds, significantly more than the typical weight range of Eastern coyotes, which is between 25 and 40 pounds. This unusual finding has prompted the DNR to launch an investigation into the matter.
Gray wolves are currently found almost exclusively in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with only a few instances of their presence in the northern areas of the Lower Peninsula in recent decades. Brian Roell, a DNR wildlife biologist and large carnivore specialist, emphasized the rarity of this case and the agency’s commitment to uncovering more information about the animal’s origin.
While it is possible for wolves to traverse vast distances, Roell expressed some doubt that the wolf ended up in southern Michigan naturally, citing the lack of suitable habitat for sustaining gray wolves in the area. He suggested that if the animal did indeed reach Calhoun County on its own, it was likely drifting and searching for others of its kind.
The DNR first learned about the animal through social media posts in January, which touted it as a “world record coyote.” However, Roell was certain from the online photos that the animal was a wolf. The agency obtained samples from a taxidermist and received confirmation from two laboratories that the animal was indeed a gray wolf. The DNR has since seized the carcass for further examination.
It is crucial to note that gray wolves are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act and can only be killed if they pose a direct and immediate threat to human life. As the investigation continues, wildlife officials and the public alike await more information about this remarkable discovery and its implications for the presence of gray wolves in southern Michigan.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.