WDFW authorizes killing two wolves
By Terry Murry on Thursday, November 11th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind authorized permits for the removal of up to two wolves from an area of new wolf pack activity in Columbia County. This action, taken on Wednesday, is in response to repeated depredations of cattle on private grazing lands.
Four adult wolves and four pups are believed to be in this new wolf pack. Their activity is north of the Touchet pack territory and west of the Tucannon pack territory.
WDFW has documented four depredation events affecting two different livestock producers resulting in one dead and four injured livestock since Aug. 25, all attributed to wolves in the area of new wolf activity. All events except one were considered confirmed wolf depredation incidents; the other incident involved one calf confirmed injured by wolves and two others probably injured by wolves.
Deterrence measures were implemented by the livestock producers and Susewind says his decision is consistent with the guidance of the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the agency’s lethal removal provisions.
