North Idahoan Sentenced for Killing Wolf Thinking it a Coyote

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho man who shot and killed a wolf will spend six months on unsupervised probation.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports 54-year-old Forrest Mize was convicted by a jury Thursday and can petition to remove the crime from his record if he completes his probation without violations.

Mize says he shot the wolf in self-defense. He later decided to keep the pelt, bringing it to a taxidermist and buying a tag.

Defense lawyer Michael Palmer says Mizer thought he was killing a coyote.

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Tony Clinger argued in court that the case came down to the fact that Mize didn't have the required tag before he shot the wolf.