Wolf Netted Safely by Police in New Brighton

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. -  Wildlife biologists in Columbus have finally captured their missing Mexican Grey Wolf after an early morning chase in New Brighton.

The wolf, along with two sister wolves, was mysteriously released from their pens Sunday night at the Wildlife Science Center in Columbus. No has claimed responsibility for the action and officials don’t have any immediate answers as to who may have done it.

Two of the wolves were recaptured right away this week. But the third had been spotted everywhere from Coon Lake to New Brighton. It was a jogger who spotted the wolf this morning near Long Lake and notified police. Within moments police joined the chase along with Fox 9 photojournalist Greg Kellog who captured the wolf on camera.

Handlers from the Science Center finally cornered the wolf along a fence at 694 just before 10 a.m. and snared it with a net.

“And she put herself in a pretty good capture situation,” said Matt Row with the Wildlife Science Center. “There were fences on two sides, there was a burm, and then we had people. It was petty ideal so we could surround her and put her in that way.”

After and quick examination the Center’s Peggy Callahan said she looked tired and hungry. “Based upon her foot prints and her patterns, there’s nothing to suggest that she hunted,” said Callahan. “She was walking on roads she was on snowmobile tracks she was on Coon Lake, there’s nothing to suggest that she hunted.”

The wolf has been treated with antibiotics to prevent any infections and is now back in her pen with her two sisters at the Wildlife Science Center.