The gray was killed during a legal hunt in January. A hunter said he mistook the wolf for a large coyote. Related: Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

This particular wolf was observed when a hunter, engaged in legal coyote hunting accompanied by a guide, said he encountered what was initially believed to be a large coyote. The hunter shot the ...

The state repealed the bounty in 1960 and, five years later, “granted the wolf full protection by law,” according to the International Wolf Center. The animals received federal protection in 1974.