State wildlife officials have confirmed that the very first wolf documented in Nevada in 95 years has been caught on video.
Last Friday the Nevada Department of Wildlife confirmed the presence of first wolf documented in the state in 95 years.
They indicated that a wolf from Northern California's Shasta Pack had wandered into Nevada. The wolf was captured on video near Fox Mountain in the northwest corner of the state.
The video prompted an investigation by Department of Wildlife officials, who collected wolf scat found in the area and sent it to the University of Idaho's Laboratory for Ecological, Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics for testing. The lab determined that the scat was from a young wolf belonging to the Shasta Pack.
Nevada Game Chief Brian Wakeling declared, "This observation is of a lone animal and is not confirmation of wolves with established territories in Nevada." It is surmised that the young male wolf may have been looking for a mate.
"While we have had a number of reports of wolves over the years, primarily in northeastern Nevada," said Wakeling, "this observation is of a lone animal and is not confirmation of wolves with established territories in Nevada."
Tony Wasley, Nevada Wildlife Director, also indicated that "Following the release of wolves in Yellowstone Park, it has taken over 20 years for the first confirmed occurrence in Nevada. Clearly, this confirmed sighting has heightened the department's awareness. We will be closely monitoring the situation."
Researchers indicate that the Shasta Pack contains two adults and five offspring. None of the wolves in the Shasta Pack are fitted with radio collars and the current whereabouts of the pack is unknown. This is the first confirmed sighting of a wolf in Nevada since 1922, although there is no evidence that the animal is still in the state.
Wolves in Nevada are listed as "endangered" under the federal Endangered Species Act.
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