DAVENPORT, Iowa — An animal found dead in Davenport has been identified as a gray wolf, according to the Iowa DNR.
The wolf was found laying on the median of I-80 near the I-280 interchange the morning of Monday, Feb. 19 when an officer spotted it, and the wolf was brought to Iowa State University in Ames for examination. That confirmed the wolf's species, and a state veterinarian also found that the wolf's body had been infested with tapeworms.
"This particular parasite can infect people through the ingestion of eggs in feces, so this serves as a good reminder for our hunters, trappers and wildlife rehabilitators to take care when handling coyotes and foxes," Iowa State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Rachel Ruden said.
Iowa doesn't have a native breeding wolf population, and the state has averaged no more than five wolves roaming through it over the course of the last five years, according to the Iowa DNR.
Wolves are a protected species in Iowa, and there's no hunting season for them.
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