by Jim Monk
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) – Federal wildlife biologists confirm that two grey wolves were recently trapped and killed in an area outside their usual habitat near Glyndon, Minn. The wolves are suspected of killing several calves on a ranch between Glyndon and Hawley.
Rancher Jeff Mortenson says since early April, at least five of his calves have been taken by wolves. Experts from the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division, a government agency that traps and kills nuisance wildlife, arrived at Mortenson’s ranch to verify his claims.
“They looked around and verified that it was a wolf kill” Mortenson said. “They ended up getting the female about a week later after the traps were set. And then, actually the next day, they caught the male.”
USDA Wildlife Services District Director John Hart says the wolves were believed to be a mating pair. He says the male weighed 95 pounds; the female weighed 73 pounds. Hart says grey wolf sightings are rare in Clay County because the area is outside the animal’s regular habitat.
Mortenson says the traps were removed from his land on Monday. He says so far, there have been no signs of additional wolves in the area.