Reward For Killer Of Endangered Gray Wolf Increases To $16K

PORTLAND, OR -- A reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who killed an endangered gray wolf in Oregon was increased to $16,750 on Wednesday.

A male gray wolf known as OR-25 was found dead near Fort Klamath on Sun Pass State Forest on Oct. 29, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The agency offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or a criminal conviction of the person or persons responsible, but that reward was increased with the help of six conservation groups.

It is a violation of the Endangered Species Act to kill a gray wolf,which is listed as endangered in the western two-thirds of Oregon. It is also a violation of Oregon state game laws.

“Wolves in Oregon are being gunned down maliciously after wildlife officials prematurely removed state-level protections for these misunderstood animals,” said Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. “Whatever you think of wolves, poaching is wrong and cowardly. We hope someone steps forward with information leading to the killer’s prosecution.”

OR-25 was collared as a yearling on May 20, 2014, and dispersed from the Imnaha Pack in northeastern Oregon in March 2015. The wolf was 4.5 years old at the time of its death and was not known to be part of any pack at that time.

The Oregon State Police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information about this case should call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (503) 682-6131 or Oregon State Police Tip Line at (800) 452-7888. Callers may remain anonymous.

--Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service