June 21, 2016 at 5:00 am |

ATHOL — Idaho Fish and Game is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for killing a litter of wolf pups from a den near Athol.

According to Idaho Fish & Game spokesman Phil Cooper, the wolves were killed about 15 miles north of Coeur d’Alene sometime during the week of May 16. The wolves were found in the Sage Creek drainage off Bunco Road.

Cooper said the case is still under active investigation, so details such as the number of pups, their age and how they were killed are being withheld until a suspect is caught.

“We are just hoping that someone told someone else about this,” Cooper said, adding there is a reward being offered for information leading to the capture of the suspect.

IFG manages wolves in Idaho as big game animals, but there was no open season for wolves in the area when the juvenile wolves were killed, Cooper said.

Fish and Game officers have collected evidence at the scene and are following leads.

Any person with information about this incident is urged to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 (tip line available 24 hours a day).

Callers may remain anonymous.