U.S.

DNA test solves mystery of wolf-like creature shot in Montana

June 18, 2018 / 3:32 PM EDT / CBS News

In May, a large wolf-like creature was shot by a rancher in Montana, and its identity puzzled local experts and social media users around the nation. Was it a wolf? An unusual bear? Some even started speculating about Bigfoot or a real-life dire wolf from "Game of Thrones." A DNA test was ordered up to determine the animal's true identity -- and the results may be a disappointment for Bigfoot-hunters.

The animal was shot on a ranch outside Denton on May 16, but it looked as if it came out of the Ice Age. Photos taken by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) showed a raggedy wolf-like creature with some slightly unusual features. It had long grayish-brown fur, a large head and a snout; but its ears seemed larger than average, and its legs and body too short for a typical wolf.

"We have no idea what this was until we get a DNA report back," Bruce Auchly, information manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, told The Great Falls Tribune at the time.

A man shot the animal when it appeared on his ranch, then called Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks who took it to their lab. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Now, about a month later, the DNA results are in and the mystery has been solved once and for all.

"The canine creature shot in Montana a month ago that captured the curiosity of the nation is actually a gray wolf," Montana FWP wrote in an announcement Monday.

"DNA from the animal ... was tested at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensic laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. The lab compared the animal's DNA with thousands of other DNA samples from wolves, coyotes and dogs," the official state agency said. "The conclusion was clear -- this animal is a gray wolf from the northern Rocky Mountains."

Montana FWP says confusion over the animal's identity may have been caused by its appearance in the photos. It seemed to have short legs and big ears but inspection of the animal at the wildlife lab in Bozeman "revealed a relatively normal looking, dark brown wolf" Montana FWP says.

The wolf "measured 45 inches from the tip of the nose to the rump and weighed 84.5 pounds," the announcement said. It is a non-lactating female, estimated to be between 2 and 3 years old. Mary Curtis, geneticist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says physical variations aren't unusual for animals.

So the mysterious animal was actually just one of the approximately 900 wolves roaming Montana. At least the mystery is finally solved.

Caitlin O'Kane

Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.