Birnhamwood, Wisconsin

From the Appleton Post Crescent of July 8, 2007

Retired farmer kills wolf

A retired farmer took matters into his own hands Monday when he shot and killed a gray wolf after he lost a newborn calf to a pack of wolves.

George Metropulos, 71, killed the female gray wolf with a .22-caliber rifle after suspected members of her pack dragged away a just-born calf. He said he was planning to scare the wolf but hit her in the eye and killed her instantly.

Since the western Great Lakes gray wolf has been removed from the endangered species list, it is legal to shoot the animals if they are on private property and causing harm to livestock. Monday's incident was the second civilian shooting since the wolf's de-listing, but damage by gray wolves has increased, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

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