AKWESASNE, New York -- A hybrid animal, believed to be part wolf and part dog, was captured this week at Akwesasne, where officials are awaiting experts to analyze its DNA.

Its presence and the sightings of others like it are raising cultural, legal and environmental issues on the Mohawk territory.

Three animals similar to the one caught Monday were shot and killed last month: two at Akwesasne and the other in the Town of Parishville in St. Lawrence County.

Testing by Ward Stone of the Wildlife Pathology Unit at the State Department of Environmental Conservation determined the three were Alaskan wolf-dog hybrids and all related to each other.

According to a news release from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service was interested in the wolf parentage because the shootings could have been violations of the Endangered Species Act.

The penalty for killing an endangered animal can be one year in prison and fines as high as $50,000.

At the same time, the Tribal Council is drafting a local law to prohibit possession of any wild animals, including wolves or wolf hybrids.

But one concern is that some of the St. Regis Mohawks embrace the cultural significance of the wolf, which is one of the Mohawk Nation's tribal clans, along with the turtle and bear clans.

Instead of killing wolves, it is considered a privilege to have the chance to observe one in the wild.

"Since Akwesasne is a Native American community, there are likely to be strong feelings toward wanting to harbor wolf-dog hybrids because of the cultural significance of wolves," the news release states.

"Unfortunately, having wolf-dog hybrids as pets may not turn out as expected."

It is illegal in New York to breed wolf hybrids because the offspring retain the pack instinct and have no fear of humans.

"When raised with a human family, the hybrids consider the children of the family 'part of the pack,' which can have disastrous consequences when the hybrid reaches (age) 2 or 3 and the struggle for dominance begins," the tribe cautions.

This is usually when the hybrids are released into the wild to fend for themselves, and they sometimes try to attach themselves to other humans.

Several sightings were reported last month around White Road, Frogtown Road and North Road.

Some in the community have been feeding the hybrids, which is how Tribal Animal Officer Derek Comins was able to tranquilize and capture one Monday.

The sandy-colored male weighs 83 pounds.

"He is an attractive animal and very accustomed to contact with humans," Comins said. "He's been hanging around on Tarbell Road. He was actually eating food out of my hand."

Having hybrids in New York could mean more problems because Canadian wolves may begin to migrate here, increasing the chances of encounters with humans.