Third collared gray wolf killed in Oregon

(Update: More on previous killings)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) – Another gray wolf has been found dead in Oregon, marking the third such killing of a federally protected wolf in the past year.
 
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says the wolf was found dead on Oct. 29 on state forest land.
 
Gray wolves are listed as a federally endangered species in western Oregon and killing one is a federal crime.
 
In all three cases, US wildlife officials are offering a $5,000 reward for information about the killings.
 
The wolf was known to biologists at OR-25.
 
It was believed to have killed a calf at a private ranch near Prospect earlier this year.

The Medford Mail Tribune reports all three of the killings occurred in Jackson County. The newspaper said the cause of death in the most recent case was not revealed.

OR-33, a collared male, was found shot dead April 23 about 20 miles northwest of Klamath Falls in the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

OR-28, a collared female, was found dead near Summer Lake, also in the Fremont-Winema.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not released its cause of death, and an investigator also declined to say whether investigators believe any of the killings are related, due to the ongoing investigations.