Scientists working to unravel mysteries around rare gray wolf found in Davenport
DNA tests could trace wolf’s roots to northern Great Lakes
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - Scientists have been working to find out more about a gray wolf found February 19 along Interstate 80 near Davenport -- including where it came from and how it ended up in the Quad-Cities.
The wolf was coincidentally found by a DNR officer.
It was taken to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Ames where it underwent a necropsy— a sort of autopsy on animals.
The DNR learned the wolf was probably about 2 years old. It died from injuries after it was likely struck by a car.
DNA tests sent to Princeton University’s canine lab will reveal more.
“All of its characteristics does look like gray wolf,” said Vince Evelsizer, the state’s furbearer biologist. “However, in the meantime, we are going to try to get a DNA sample done on this animal to verify that it is a true wild gray wolf. And not a hybrid, you know, Wolf dog or something like that. But right now, so far everything looks like it’s a true gray wolf.”
It’s possible the lone wolf traveled hundreds of miles over months searching for a mate in another pack.
Experts assume it came from the Great Lakes gray wolf population in either Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan.
Iowa hasn’t had a wolf pack in 100 years.
“When European settlers settled, you know, our state, however, they were wiped out from unregulated, you know, shooting and killing back then,” Evelsizer said. “This would have been in the 1800s to the early 1900s.”
The wolf’s pelt and skull are being preserved for educational purposes so more people can learn about this rare animal.
The gray wolf is considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
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