News dgregg on 05 Mar 2008 11:56 am
First Gray Wolf in Mass. in 160 Years
Here’s an interesting tidbit:
updated
Tuesday, 5:32 PM
From the City & Region staff at The Boston Globe
First wolf found in Mass. in 160 years
Email|Print| Text size – + March 4, 2008 03:03 PM
By Beth Daley, Globe Staff
More than 160 years since hunters drove wolves out of Massachusetts, federal officials have confirmed finding a wild gray wolf in the state.
US Fish and Wildlife Service officials said today that genetic tests performed on an animal killed on a Shelburne farm in October, after it mauled more than a dozen sheep, showed that it was an eastern gray wolf.
“We have no indication that this wolf was ever held in captivity,” said Thomas J. Healy, special agent in charge of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northeast Region. “But what we don’t know about this wolf’s origins far outweighs what we do know.”
The confirmation is giving wildlife enthusiasts hope that the animal may one day reestablish itself in the forests of the Northeast. Wolves were aggressively hunted by farmers in the early 1800s until virtually none were left. The nearest established populations to New England are in Ontario and Quebec.
While the public often reports sighting wolves, most of those animals turn out to be coyotes or wolf-dog, wolf-coyote mixes, officials say. The last time a purebred wolf that did not live in captivity was found in New England was around 1992 in Maine.
The genetic tests on the 85-pound male were conducted by scientists at the wildlife service’s National Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Ore. Massachusetts and other wildlife biologists had previously said they doubted the wolf was a purebred.
on 12 Jan 2010 at 3:52 pm 1.Sandy Anderson said …
Maybe a wolf sighting in North Kingstown, R.I. near Stony Ln. as reported by one of our neighbors.
on 22 Jan 2010 at 7:02 am 2.Rachel said …
A friend of mine at work had told me that a neighbor of hers on Rt. 6 in Forster, RI. Had 3 adult male wolves that he had brought home from out west when they were just pups. Recently all three had gotten loose a few months ago. They were not hand fed. But where caged. They are use to human closeness and are not affriad of humans. Also if it wasn’t him it was another person who also lost a few male wolves a year or so before 2009. I have had the oppurtunity to come face to face with two very big canines. To me this so called coyote was a mixed breed. They were not your typical gray or black coyotes. These canines were clearly over 100lbs. Their colors were of a mixture of browns. They were attacking my chickens when I came out of my house screaming and growling at them. At first they ran a few steps then turned around as if to size me up. To see if I was a threat or breakfast. Not giving them a moment to think. I expanded my long black dress making me look bigger & growled even meaner and louder as I charged at them. Luckily for me they both ran away. So, I’m wondering if the wolves maybe breeding with female coytoes or dogs. They truly are a very beautiful animal, but very sceary at their size. That day I spent alerting my neighbors to what I saw. The Burrillville Animal Contol were informored and are currently trying to keep track of their movemets. They also are aware of their larger sizes. They have stated finding aniamls in excess of 120lbs. That to me is more alarming. An animal that size could easially take a woman of my size down. What about children? I raise miniature horses and birds. However 2 years ago I lost hundreds of birds of many different breeds to these preditors. I now only keep a few dozens. I can not afford to feed the preditors my precious pets. Where I live are alot of areas these preditors can live and breed successfully for years before they become too many to number when they become an even bigger problem. I just thought to share this info with you incase you wanted to search or keep an ear out for future stories of wolf sightings. They maybe right! Have a Great Day! & God Bless!