A picture accompanying the story of a "wolf-like" animal shot and killed at a family ranch in Denton, Montana, has the internet speculating on the creature's species--be that some sort of wolf hybrid or something far stranger, such as the elusive cryptid dogman.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) warden Sgt. Kyle Andersen of the Lewistown Field Office spoke to KXLO news radio about the incident last Wednesday.

"A landowner shot what she believed to be a wolf several days ago," Andersen said. "It was reported to be near livestock."

According to Andersen, two game wardens arrived at the scene and took photographs--including the one above.

The photographs were sent to the Montana FWP wolf specialist in Great Falls, while the actual animal specimen was taken to a lab in Bozeman for examination.

"Based on the photograph we have some doubts as to whether or not it's a purebred wolf or a hybrid or a wild dog of sorts," explained Andersen.

The single photo released by the FWP has observers on the internet wondering if the animal might be something paranormal.

"Maybe the elusive cryptic Dogman," wrote one commenter.

"This appears to be a specimen of the Montanan cryptid called Shunka-Warakin," said another.

Still others are unconvinced that it's anything out of the ordinary.

"Not as big as you think," one skeptic commented. "Look [at the] size of [the] tailgate. It's the angle of the picture...people do that to make their fish look huge too. I'd go with a wolf cross..."

Update 5/25/18: The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have released more photos of the animal.

In an emailed response to the Singular Fortean Society's inquiry about the planned DNA test, Sgt. Kyle Andersen stated that Montana FWP will "do a follow-up press release" regarding the test, but that it "might take months to get results."

The Singular Fortean Society will follow-up pending the results of that test.

Update 6/18/18: The animal pictured has been confirmed to be a gray wolf per the aforementioned DNA test.