WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Coalition Offers Reward in Case of Wolf Illegally Poisoned in Colorado

Offering a reward of as much as $4,500 for information leading to the identification
Contact: Wendy Keefover-Ring (505) 988-9126 x1162

(May  10, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States, The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, WildEarth Guardians, the Center for Native Ecosystems, Wilderness Workshop, and Colorado Wild are offering a reward of as much as $4,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the illegal poisoning of a Yellowstone-area gray wolf. 

The Case:

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on Apr. 6, 2009, a radio collared female gray wolf was found dead near Rio Blanco County Road 60 after her GPS tracking collar emitted a mortality signal.  Toxicology reports performed at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory revealed that she was killed by ingesting the illegal poison Compound 1080. 

In Jan. 2011, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officially announced their investigation into this illegal wolf poisoning and asked members of the public with information to contact investigators.  In hopes that reward money will provide an incentive for someone to come forward with information, a coalition of wildlife protection groups has joined forces to offer this reward. 

“We implore anyone with information about this case to come forward so that the person or persons responsible for so cruelly harming an endangered species can be brought to justice,” said Holly Tarry, Colorado state director for The HSUS. “The Humane Society of the United States commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their efforts to find those responsible for this serious crime.”   

"Colorado should not be a minefield of deadly poison," said Wendy Keefover of WildEarth Guardians.  "The case of little Wolf 314F's death shows why the EPA should completely ban the use and manufacture of Compound 1080," she added.

 Poaching:

• Poaching a broad term that includes illegally harming or killing wildlife.
• Wildlife officials estimate that for every wild animal killed legally — tens of millions of animals per year — another is killed illegally.
• Every year, thousands of poachers are arrested nationwide; however, it is estimated that only 1 to 5 percent of poached animals are discovered by law enforcement.
• Poachers injure or kill wildlife anytime, anywhere and sometimes do so in particularly cruel ways. Wildlife officials report that poachers often commit other crimes as well.

The Investigators: 

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call U.S. Fish and Wildlife at (720) 981-2777.