/ Modified nov 24, 2014 11:39 a.m.

Female Gray Wolf Wanders in Grand Canyon

Animal was first seen on North Rim earlier this month; wildlife officials confirm species.

Federal wildlife officials say tests have confirmed that the animal seen on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon recently is a female gray wolf.

The wolf traveled 450 miles or more from its habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains, and it was identified from analysis of its droppings.

It was first seen in the North Rim earlier this month. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife then announced it was working on determining whether the animal was in fact a gray wolf or a hybrid.

A gray wolf hadn't been seen in Arizona for more than 70 years.

The animal is fully protected under the Endangered Species Act.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona