CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. — A harvest that was reported by a hunter as a large coyote turned out to be something much more rare—a gray wolf, shot and killed in the Lower Peninsula.
Back in January, a hunter was legally hunting coyotes in Calhoun County with a guide when he spotted what he believed was a large coyote and shot it. It weighed about 84 pounds. Most adult coyotes weigh between 25 and 40 pounds.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) genetically tested the animal and found it was a gray wolf.
Gray wolves rarely move into the Lower Peninsula. The last time this was recorded by the DNR was back in 2014 when a trail camera set up by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians captured a wolf.
"This is an unusual case, and the DNR is actively delving into the matter to learn more about this particular animal's origin," said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the DNR. "While rare, instances of wolves traversing vast distances have been documented, including signs of wolves in recent decades in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.”
The DNR said there is no reason to be concerned about more wolves in the Lower Peninsula. This wolf is believed to have traveled alone, and the DNR does not believe it was part of a population living in the area.
In 2025, the DNR plans to conduct a tracking survey to see where wolves are in Michigan.
The DNR is reminding Michiganders that hunting wolves is prohibited in Michigan, as wolves fall in the endangered category in the state. It is only legal to kill a wolf if they are a threat to human life. You can learn more about wolves in Michigan here.
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