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Wolf Shot In Eastern U.P.

State officials are offering an award for information about an illegal wolf kill in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The wolf was found February 11th, with an apparent gunshot wound, south of Newberry.

Wolves are still considered an endangered species in Michigan. They can't be killed unless in defense of human life.

Just last month, state officials reported that a wolf pup was likely poached in the northern Lower Peninsula as well.

Wolf  poaching has been on the rise in recent years, even as the state is trying to get Michigan wolves off the endangered list.

"For every wolf that is poached, it is going to make it harder for us to convince people that wolves should come off the endangered species list and return to state management," says Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment spokeswoman Debbie Munson Badini.

"I believe that people in the field believe that if they kill wolves that they're actually going to help the situation. But they're not. They're making it worse," she says.

The number of wolves has also been on the rise.

In fact, wolves have recovered so well in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that state officials have been trying for years to get the Michigan wolf off the federal endangered species list.

The state is expecting federal officials to move forward with the de-listing process again this spring.

This is the third attempt to remove Michigan wolves from the list. Some groups have brought court challenges to keep the animals under federal protection.

State officials are also looking for information about a southern Michigan bald eagle shooting. The injured bird was rescued in Genesee County.