By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

For the second time this year, a canine that is likely a female gray wolf, has been found dead in Illinois, this time in nearby rural Dwight.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, an Illinois Conservation Police Officer picked up a probable wolf that was hit by a vehicle along Interstate 55 near Illinois 47 just north of Dwight on Friday, April 10.

On Feb. 13, a female wolf was found dead along Nettle School Road north of Interstate 80 in Grundy County.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to confirm identification of the animal found last Friday and conduct genetic testing.

The Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the identity of the gray wolf found dead in Grundy County last February.  That wolf was determined to be from the Great Lakes Population. The wolf, a female, likely died after being hit by a vehicle.

For more information about gray wolves in Illinois, and for records of recent sightings back to 2002, visit: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory_show.cfm?species=wolf