OPB News by Rob Manning

Oregon authorities confirmed Tuesday that they discovered a dead wolf in the northeastern part of the state. As Rob Manning reports, federal officials are leading the investigation.

State wildlife officials say the dead wolf was a two year-old male that had been outfitted with a radio collar this past summer, to help track the Wenaha pack’s movements.

It’s not the pack’s alpha male, but it is one of only four adult wolves in the pack.

An Oregon Fish and Wildlife staffer discovered the wolf carcass last Thursday while doing survey work in the Umatilla National Forest.

Environmentalists say the wolf was shot, though government officials haven’t confirmed that.

Wolves in Oregon are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The state’s top wolf official says for that reason, the feds are leading the investigation into the wolf’s death.

A call to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wasn’t immediately returned.