Only days after vandals helped release wolves from the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve’s Wolf Centre, the reserve’s owner has offered a $3,000 cash reward in hope of speeding up the investigation.
While there have been a number of developments in the story since our first post, the vandals who managed to cut the centre’s fence have not yet been identified.
However, the whereabouts of the four escaped wolves is known. Haida, one of the two alpha pair that left the enclosure, is believed to have been shot and killed by a passing motorist, according to a release by the reserve.
“[A staff member] noticed a bloody drag mark down the hill, approximately 200 meters north of the Wolf Centre. Upon further investigation—and after finding a cartridge, hair etc.—we have to conclude that between 10:20 a.m. and 4 p.m. on January 1st, Haida, the alpha male of the pack, was shot,” said owner Peter Schleifenbaum.
The other three wolves, Granite, Luna and Lonestar, have come back to the centre, but have not made their way into the enclosure.
Currently, staff is attempting to lure the three remaining wolves inside the fence. According to Schleifenbaum, the reserve set up four different live-trapping devices. While the wolves were observed investigating two of the baited live-traps, they haven’t been successful, and reserve staff plan to step up their efforts. “Keep your fingers crossed,” says Schleifenbaum, who has been providing regular updates through the reserve’s Facebook page since the incident occurred.
Anyone with information regarding the crime should directly contact the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve.
