A wild escape: Wolf briefly flees Ohio zoo habitat before being recaptured

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A wolf escaped its habitat at an Ohio zoo on Monday, but staff were able to recapture the animal before it harmed any guests or employees.  

Jacqueline Gerling, director of communications at Cleveland Metroparks, confirmed to USA TODAY that a Mexican gray wolf “briefly” breached its habitat before being secured by staff. USA TODAY has reached out for additional information on the breach.

Gerling said the incident is under investigation. The zoo has resumed its operations as of Monday afternoon. 

Mexican gray wolves are the smallest of the gray wolf subspecies, according to the zoo. They grow to be 54 to 66 inches in length and weigh 50 to 90 pounds.  

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There are six Mexican gray wolves at the zoo, CBS affiliate WOIO-TV reported. The animals, all sisters, are named Catori, Sarita, Una, Aprecia, Nancita and Mitzi. They came to Cleveland in 2009 from the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center in Missouri.