Rare Rocky Mountain wolverine killed in N.D.

The Fort Collins wildlife photographer who captured the only known images of a wolverine in Rocky Mountain National Park was saddened upon hearing recent news that the animal was shot and killed on a ranch in western North Dakota.

The wolverine reportedly repeatedly harassed cattle on the ranch. An investigation determined the shooting was justifiable under North Dakota law that allows ranchers to use lethal measures to protect their livestock.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed the wolverine's identity, M-56, and past whereabouts after finding an implanted radio tracking device in the animal's abdomen, according to the Associated Press.

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"Photographing him really is a highlight of my career. I'd spent so much time in Rocky Mountain National Park, so to see him in the park was a really connected experience," said Ray Rafiti, the wildlife photographer who still is routinely asked to provide the photo to various outlets, including conservation organizations and wildlife biologists.

"On a personal level, I'm very disappointed and sad," said Rafiti, a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years who formerly wrote a column for the Coloradoan's outdoor Xplore section.

On Monday, Rafiti posted on his photography Facebook page, Wild Faces Wild Places, one of his photos of the wolverine, along with a photo the North Dakota rancher who shot the wolverine posted to his own page.

"Very sad ending to a majestic and historic visitor to our state," Rafiti wrote.

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Rafiti said he's reached out to the North Dakota rancher but as of Wednesday morning hadn't heard back from him. 

M-56 was North Dakota's first confirmed wolverine in more than a century. When Rafiti captured his photo of M-56 in 2009, it was the first time a wolverine had been confirmed in Rocky Mountain National Park in 90 years.

M-56 was first tracked by scientists in 2008 when captured south of Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. Researchers tracked the young male for more than 500 miles, where it then took up residence in Rocky Mountain National Park. The tracker showed M-56's last known location was in Colorado in 2012. The device's battery likely gave out after that.

The wolverine was killed on a ranch near Alexander, North Dakota, more than 700 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.

How Rafiti's historical image happened 

Rafiti and friends James Cotter and Jessica Swan were searching for wildflowers near Rocky Mountain National Park's Forest Canyon Overlook not far from a well-traveled Trail Ridge Road on June 26, 2009.

About 7:30 p.m., Rafiti saw an elk bedded down in a tundra bowl off Rainbow Curve above Hidden Valley Snow Play Area. He walked to the bowl, where he was joined by his friends. While photographing the elk, the bull became startled, stood up abruptly and began prancing, a clear indication of being spooked.

From the shadows of the forest emerged what Rafiti told the Coloradoan in 2009 he first believed to be a bear cub, until he noticed the animal was too agile to be a clumsy cub.

Once it emerged from the shadows, Rafiti was certain he saw one of North America's rarest mammals; there are an estimated 200 wolverines in the Lower 48 states, mostly in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

The wolverine then sprinted uphill and over a ridge, leaving Rafiti and his friends with an estimated two to three minutes of viewing and Rafiti with 24 images on his Canon Mark III camera.

An anxious Rafiti raced to his Fort Collins home to determine the quality of his images. After transferring his images from the memory card to his computer, he knew for certain the animal was a wolverine.

Rafiti said he's almost "100 percent" certain he spotted M-56 a couple years ago near Mount Evans. He feels confident the animal he saw scampering across the hillside was a wolverine because fellow photographer Cameron Miller produced an image of M-56 in the area around the same time.

Rafiti said he's disappointed about M-56 being shot from a broader perspective regarding the wolverine's lack of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

"It's a really sad thing. I hope we can do more good on behalf of the wolverines," he said.

In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to list wolverines under the Endangered Species Act, citing a lack of data on how predicted climate-driven loss of spring snowpack will impact wolverines. A federal judge recently ruled in favor of environmental groups who sued, ordering the agency to re-evaluate its decision.

Resembling a small bear, wolverines are solitary animals that need a lot of room to roam. They may travel 15 miles a day in search of food. Young males often travel hundreds of miles in search of a mate. They're also known for their ferociousness, bringing down deer, elk and even moose.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Xplore reporter Stephen Meyers covers the outdoors and recreation for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter @stemeyer or @XploreNoCo.