Male wolf found dead near Marias

The Daily Inter Lake

A male wolf, thought to be a loner, was hit and killed by a vehicle on U.S. 2 near Marias, an unusual, high-altitude location where there are no known wolf packs.

The carcass of the 100-pound animal was found Dec. 12 on U.S. 2, just west of 5,280-foot Marias Pass, a Continental Divide crossing.

Kent Laudon, a wolf management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, estimated the animal was 2 or 3 years old - a prime age for wolves to disperse from the packs to which they were born.

Because there are no known packs near Marias Pass, Laudon speculates the wolf was wandering on its own.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks plans to have the wolf mounted for educational purposes.

The department encourages the public to report sightings of wolves or wolf sign to help to help document wolf activity in new areas.

Reports can be submitted by calling Kent Laudon at 751-4586 or online at http://www.fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/wolf.