WDFW Considers Going Lethal With Blue Mtns. Wolf Pack

A Southeast Washington wolf pack blamed for killing two calves and injuring ten others may go under the gun as WDFW considers lethal removals to try and stop their five-month series of attacks.

State wolf managers say the Columbia Pack has depredated livestock owned by four different producers in six confirmed and six probable events that began back in early August, with the most recent occurring last Sunday, December 29.

They would take out a “wolf or wolves” if authorized by Director Kelly Susewind following a regional staff recommendation.

WDFW says the ranchers have used nonlethal deterrents such as using range riding and human presence, removing sick and injured animals, stringing fladry and fox lights, and putting mineral blocks away from areas of high wolf use. They’ve also calved away from wolf areas and delayed spring turnout.

“Staff are assessing how to most effectively address this situation moving forward and will provide a recommendation to WDFW’s Director within the next few days,” an agency statement out late in the day says.

In November, WDFW decided not to go lethal with the Columbia Pack following probable wolf attacks on five calves, as “it was determined that proactive and responsive deterrent measures were not fully employed,” and in October also demurred going after the Couse Pack because a depredation was more than two weeks old and beyond the effective range of removals and it also couldn’t accurately be pinned on that pack or another.

Last year, WDFW lethally removed five wolves.

In other Northwest wolf news, an ODFW press release detailed some $131,400 in reward money being offered for information on the deaths of eight wolves across Oregon over the past year or so, as well as two golden eagles that were poisoned along with three of those wolves.