LaBARGE - In recent years as wolf populations have expanded, the number of incidents of wolves caught in coyote traps has increased.

On many occasions, the wolves can be released without major injury. But there have been a few wolf deaths.

For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service euthanized an old female wolf in the LaBarge area last week.

Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery leader Mike Jimenez said he was notified by a coyote trapper on a private ranch west of LaBarge that a wolf had been caught in a coyote trap, but had broken away, taking the trap and its drag chain with it.

The landowner had seen two wolves together in the area, Jimenez reported. He entered the area and tracked the two wolves, following the trail where the wolf would get the chain tangled and stuck, then break free and once again be on the move.

Jimenez finally located the wolf with the trap, and because of damage to the animal's leg, put the wolf down. The second wolf remains in the area.

The adult female wolf was obviously old, but "in reasonable condition," Jimenez said, although her teeth were worn down nearly to the gum line. Jimenez estimated the wolf's weight at about 85 to 90 pounds. He guessed she had once been black, but her hair had faded with age to gray.

The wolf had no markings, and samples from its carcass have been sent to a laboratory for analysis. Jimenez said a University of California-Los Angeles student has been analyzing samples from wolves taken in the Northern Rockies since 1995 in attempt to delineate genetic lineages, and hopes the project will be completed this spring.

In early January, two wolves - one pup and one adult - were caught in coyote traps near Dubois. Both wolves were released on site and were later seen traveling with the Washakie Pack in the DuNoir Valley.

In contrast, an adult male wolf was killed in a coyote trap in northern Utah last September. The wolf had been caught in a trap on a private ranch in Box Elder County, about 10 miles from Tremonton, but had pulled the trap and its large rock drag, dragging the contraption for several days.

Fish and Wildlife advises coyote trappers to reduce their chances of losing gear through an accidental wolf capture by attaching chains and drags in addition to staking their traps; making sure all trap and chain links and swivels are doubled, welded and securely locked; using deep and stout stakes; and double-staking or more deeply staking coyote traps.