Man likely shot wolf-dog hybrids, not wolves

TROY, Mont. — The animals shot and killed July 10 by a Troy, Montana man are likely wolf-dog hybrids and not wolves as originally reported.

Dillon Tabish, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, advised local media by email Thursday that additional information had come to light after the agency learned of a local resident who was keeping wolf-dog hybrids in close proximity to where the alleged wolves had been shot.

“Wolf-dog hybrids are produced by crossing wolves with wolf-like dog breeds such as Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute,” Tabish wrote. “A FWP game warden contacted the owner of the wolf-dog hybrids and confirmed the animals had been missing since July 9.”

Tabish further advised that the property owner where the wolf hybrids were kept felt confident after looking at photos that the two reported wolves shot were actually the wolf-dog hybrids.

Results of hair sample testing to confirm the animals are wolf-hybrids have not yet been made public by the wildlife agency.

The man who shot the animals reported it to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks after observing what appeared to be wolves entering a fenced barn area and attacking his domestic goats.

“It is lawful for owners of livestock to kill dogs or wolves that are harming their livestock,” wrote Tabish.