A 22-year-old Oakridge man pleaded guilty Monday to the shooting death of an endangered gray wolf, known as "OR 28," that was being tracked by the state.

Colton Tony Dick pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawfully taking an endangered species in 2016, using a rifle and a scope. He shot the animal, prosecutors from the Department of Justice said, without legal justification because the wolf was walking away from him in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Dick was unable to locate the wolf after it was shot.

The wolf was GPS-collared and was found dead in the forest near Summer Lake. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensic Lab determined the wolf died as a result of injuries from a single gunshot wound.

Gray wolves, located in Western Oregon, are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Unlawfully taking an endangered species carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release.



Under a deferred sentencing agreement with the government, Dick agreed to submit to one-year of supervised release, pay restitution of $2,500 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, not hunt any wildlife for a period of one year and perform 100 hours of community service.



If Dick complies with the conditions, he would be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and the government would move to dismiss his charge, the department of justice said.

If you or someone you know has information about a wildlife crime, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement by emailing fws_tips@fws.gov or calling 1-844-397-8477.