Authorities in Stevens County are investigating a potential wolf sighting near a local high school and golf course.The Stevens County Sheriff's Office in Washington State, in coordination with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), is working to determine whether an animal sighted on April 1 is indeed a wolf or a domestic dog.On Facebook, the Stevens County Sheriff's Office said: "The Stevens County Sheriff's Office and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are investigating a possible wolf sighting near Colville High School and Dominion Meadows Golf Club on April 1. Stevens County's Wildlife Specialist responded and hazed the animal until it left the area."WDFW wolf specialists have since examined photos and video footage of the canine, observing that "the collar it is wearing does not look like the radio collars [WDFW] use to monitor wolves in Washington."They explained that while collars collect location data, they do not transmit in real time, and "biologists did not see data indicating a collared wolf was in the area at the time this animal was reported, around 5:30 p.m."The Sheriff's Office is investigating whether any domestic dogs in the area bear a resemblance to the animal in the footage. But they reported that "no information has been received that there are."Newsweek reached out to Stevens County Sheriff's Office via email for comment.While the Sheriff's Office is still advising caution, the community reacted online with skepticism. One Facebook user, Mekai Taylor, commented: "Looks way more like a domestic dog than a wolf. It's not a good picture but wolves are pretty distinct." Another user, Sue Janssen, said: "Looks like somebody's husky."There was known wolf activity in the area as recently as early March, and the Sheriff's department added: "The Sheriff's Office is treating this event as a wolf sighting unless it can be shown otherwise.""The animal did not display any aggression towards humans and appeared to be hunting for ground squirrels," they added.Encounters between humans and wolves remain rare, but wildlife officials urge caution. "It is unusual for wolves to be this close to humans, but it does happen," the Sheriff's Office stated. "If you do encounter a wolf, do not run or turn your back, but instead, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact, making yourself appear large, and making loud noises to deter the animal."According to the WDFW, as of December 31, 2023, there were 260 wolves in 42 packs across Washington, with 25 successful breeding pairs. While wolves generally avoid humans, they may exhibit defensive behavior if they feel threatened.