A necropsy has determined that this female wolf had been shot in Yellowstone National Park last month/NPS, Neal Herbert

Veterinarians have determined that a prominent white wolf in Yellowstone National Park that had to be put down in the field by park rangers a month ago had been shot. With that news in hand, park officials are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for shooting the animal.

A park release Thursday afternoon said preliminary results from the necropsy of the Canyon Pack alpha female wolf concluded that she had been shot. Hikers discovered the mortally wounded wolf April 11 inside Yellowstone near Gardiner, Montana. Park staff responded quickly to the situation and due to the severity of the wolf’s injuries, euthanized the animal. The deceased wolf was sent to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for a necropsy. The lab has transferred the preliminary results to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone officials were not disclosing where on the wolf's body it had been shot due to the ongoing investigation.

National Park Service law enforcement officers believe the wolf was shot on the north side of the park, near Gardiner, or near the Old Yellowstone Trail, which is located in the park on the northern boundary. The incident likely occurred sometime between April 10 at 1 a.m. and April 11 at 2 p.m.

“Due to the serious nature of this incident, a reward of up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for this criminal act,” said Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk.

If you have information about this incident that could help with this investigation, please contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB). Your tips will be confidential. You don't have to tell them who you are, but please tell them what you know:

• CALL the ISB Tip Line 888-653-0009
• TEXT to 202-379-4761
• ONLINE www.nps.gov/isb and click "Submit a Tip"
• EMAIL [email protected]
• MESSAGE via Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS

This wolf was one of three known white wolves in the park. She lived to 12 years, twice the age of an average wolf in the park, and had a broad range that extended from Hayden Valley to the Firehole River area to the northern portion of the park. As the alpha female for over nine years with the same alpha male, she had at least 20 pups, 14 of which lived to be yearlings. She was one of the most recognizable wolves and sought after by visitors to view and photograph.

The park will provide more information about this ongoing investigation when it is available.