MT not sure if this is a wolf or what is it?

[KFhunter]

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2018/05/24/wolf-dog-dogman-some-mysterious-creature-montanans-look-answers/634379002/


Was it a wolf, some type of hybrid, or a creature that hasn't been seen in Montana since the Ice Age?

On May 16 a lone wolf-like animal was shot and killed on a ranch outside Denton. With long grayish fur, a large head and an extended snout, the animal shared many of the same characteristics as a wolf; but its ears were too large, it's legs and body too short, its fur uncharacteristic of that common to a wolf.

So what was it? At this point, no one is 100 percent sure.

[Ridgeratt]

DEAD!!! 

[Jpmiller]

Kinda looks bearish to me

I don't thinks it's a bear though

[Alchase]

Long greyinsh for?
Looks like a brown wolf?

[Bango skank]

Looks like a wolf to me.  If its something else, it probably needed to be killed regardless.

[nwwanderer]

Run the DNA, should tell all. 

[pd]

Werewoof

[LongBomb]

That's a grizzly cub," one commentator wrote. "Under a year and starving from the look."

  Cmon really?? I'm guessing some wild purebred dog/wolf mutt.

[carpsniperg2]

  Looks like a young gangly wolf that hasn't shed out yet

[Timberstalker]

Pigbearwolfman!!   

[jasnt]

It’s clearly a dwarven Wolf

[DOUBLELUNG]

Warg

[Evil_EdwardO]

Bigfoot's pet dog.

[PastorJoel]

If in doubt, kill it.

Right? 

[bearpaw]

Looks like a wolf/dog hybrid, it will be interesting to see what they find out with the dna.

[N7XW]

American Chupacabra

[cbond3318]

I guess the Gubnit shouldn’t breed their Wolves so close to the Chem Trail facility. People are gonna take notice! 

[Knocker of rocks]

I wonder if it's a non-native species.   My guess is a Brown Hyena from southern Africa.  What we see mostly on TV and the such are Spotted Hyenas, which are massive animals, but Browns are almost 100 pounds smaller than Spotted's.

It could be an illegal zoo, and the people are just staying quite right now for fear of Johnny Law.



************************************************************

Just saw MT FWP news release, they are pretty certain that it's a canid, so my theory is all wet.  Most African canids are all the small size, but a African Cape Dog (kind of a misnomer because they are a fully wild breed) could be a good match

[Henrydog]

Thank God it was shot in Mt, WDFW would already have the rancher in solitary in Walla Walla if it happened here

[wrchinook]

looks like a bear and wolf hibernated together and this was the results ,great bears are wolf lovers now too   

[nwwanderer]

Any results from this beastie yet?  The commercial test is under $100, just assumed it was done?

[jasnt]

Maybe a wolf born near Hanford

[yakimanoob]

Honestly... this just looks like a wolf to me.  Maybe a wolf-dog or coy-wolf I guess, but from the very very limited photos, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a weird looking 100% wolf. 

What are you guys seeing that make you doubt it's a wolf? 

[yakimanoob]

But also this.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Honestly... this just looks like a wolf to me.  Maybe a wolf-dog or coy-wolf I guess, but from the very very limited photos, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a weird looking 100% wolf. 

What are you guys seeing that make you doubt it's a wolf? 

Feet are way too small for one, ears are too big and unusual shape.  I think it's a dog or possibly wolf-dog hybrid.  Whatever it is, it looks like it is regrowing it's coat after a severe case of mange or other skin disease.

[ctwiggs1]

malnurished bear?

[elkchaser54]

Montana Game and Fish came out and said it was a wolf with Mange.

[MonstroMuley]

Montana Game and Fish came out and said it was a wolf with Mange.

Was that MT FWP Twitter Feed [https://twitter.com/MontanaFWP/status/1000124182456397826]
or the Website [http://fwp.mt.gov/]?

[Knocker of rocks]

Montana Game and Fish came out and said it was a wolf with Mange.

Can't verify that anywhere

[MonstroMuley]

Can't verify that anywhere

 

[Bigshooter]

Last I heard was MT sent it off for DNA testing because they didn't know what it was.

[JJB11B]

Thank God it was shot in Mt, WDFW would already have the rancher in solitary in Walla Walla if it happened here

getting fed double trays, and given double yards

[Old Mule]

It's a Wolf with it's ears frostbit, seen a few Horses from Montana with the same ears.

[bigmacc]

It's a Wolf with it's ears frostbit, seen a few Horses from Montana with the same ears.

 , I remember back in "68" in the Methow, a lot of horses, other livestock and even pets came out of that flash freeze with ears looking like that,(the ones that survived anyway) I,ll be darned, I didn't even remember that until you brought it up. Good call!

[Bill W]

I'm thinking this will come out wolf hound as in the dogs that were used to kill wolves.

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm thinking this will come out wolf hound as in the dogs that were used to kill wolves.

You could be right

[Bullkllr]

I'm thinking this will come out wolf hound as in the dogs that were used to kill wolves.

You could be right

It does look similar.

I'm imagining a rancher had a big bad wolf hound sent out to kill wolves, but on at least one occasion the wolf hound had other ideas on his mind.

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm imagining a rancher had a big bad wolf hound sent out to kill wolves, but on at least one occasion the wolf hound had other ideas on his mind.

No news source is reporting that the animal shot was doing anything of the sort

[paultanninen]

It's dead alright. But you broke the number one rule: Shoot, Shovel, & Shut up.

[pianoman9701]

I'm imagining a rancher had a big bad wolf hound sent out to kill wolves, but on at least one occasion the wolf hound had other ideas on his mind.

No news source is reporting that the animal shot was doing anything of the sort

I think he's suggesting it's a wolfhound/wolf hybrid. Could be.

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm imagining a rancher had a big bad wolf hound sent out to kill wolves, but on at least one occasion the wolf hound had other ideas on his mind.

No news source is reporting that the animal shot was doing anything of the sort

I think he's suggesting it's a wolfhound/wolf hybrid. Could be.

Gotcha.

[Pathfinder101]

That's a grizzly cub," one commentator wrote. "Under a year and starving from the look."

  Cmon really?? I'm guessing some wild purebred dog/wolf mutt.

I don't know who the guy is that wrote this article, but it looks like he perused the internet for the stupidest ideas first...

[bearpaw]

http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishAndWildlife/nr_1108.html

DNA results show mysterious canine is a wolf

Fish & Wildlife
Monday, June 18, 2018

The canine creature shot in Montana a month ago that captured the curiosity of the nation is actually a gray wolf.

DNA from the animal, which was shot legally by a rancher near Denton on May 16, was tested at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensic laboratory in Ashland, Ore. The lab compared the animal’s DNA with thousands of other DNA samples from wolves, coyotes and dogs. The conclusion was clear – this animal is a gray wolf from the northern Rocky Mountains.

Confusion about the animal might be due to the condition of the animal and the photos, which seemed to show short legs and big ears. Inspection of the animal at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife health lab in Bozeman revealed a relatively normal looking, dark brown wolf.

Physical variations aren’t unusual for animals, said Mary Curtis, geneticist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Within species there can be variability that’s not surprising at all,” Curtis said.

The wolf was a non-lactating female, which means she didn’t have a litter of pups. However, any unique physical features she has might also appear in her siblings or parents and may continue to be passed along by others in her family. The wolf measured 45 inches from the tip of the nose to the rump and weighed 84.5 pounds. It’s estimated that the wolf was between 2 and 3 years old.

Wolves are fairly common in Montana. According to the 2017 Montana Gray Wolf Program Annual Report, population estimates suggest there are approximately 900 wolves in Montana. This marks the 13th consecutive year that Montana has far exceeded wolf recovery goals.

Property owners in Montana have broad legal authority to shoot wolves they feel might be a threat to their livestock, as was the case with this wolf near Denton.

[Pathfinder101]

This can't be right Dale...  It had big ears and short legs.  I have never seen humans with big ears or short legs.  We ALL look exactly the same.  Why would wolves be any different?   

Pretty sure it's a grizzly bear...

[ctwiggs1]

Probably a disteval victim.

[2labs]

I guess the Gubnit shouldn’t breed their Wolves so close to the Chem Trail facility. People are gonna take notice! 

This. Absastupidly!! =4

[nwwanderer]

Thanks bearpaw, did not understand the controversy.  Pretty common look this time of year.

[NW SURVEYOR]

I looks like my mother in law!!
God rest her black soul.

Just kidding, looks like a wolf.