ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials this week confirmed the killing of an adult male gray wolf, shot in Eastern Washington more than a year ago and dumped in eastern Skagit County.

Investigators believe the wolf was shot somewhere east of Rainy Pass just west of the Methow Valley, according to a Wenatchee World report.

Officials are releasing some information about the incident, hoping the public can help solve the case. Wolves are protected in Washington by state and federal endangered species laws.

The animal was shot and skinned, said Mike Cenci, WDFW deputy chief of enforcement.

State and federal authorities are investigating two other wolf poaching cases, one from 2008 in the same part of northern Washington and a September case in northeastern Oregon.

Cenci said a citizen reported the most recent wolf poaching.

Cenci would not say whether they believe the latest confirmed wolf poaching was from the Lookout Pack, the state’s first documented breeding wolf pack in 70 years. The pack makes its home in the Methow Valley and surrounding hills.