WDFW boss approves lethal removal of 1 or 2 members of the Couse Wolf Pack
By Terry Murry on Monday, September 14th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind has authorized a staff request for the incremental lethal removal of one or two wolves from the territory of the Couse Wolf Pack in Asotin County. Susewind issued the approval Friday afternoon.
Staff says his decision is consistent with the guidance of the Washington Wolf Plan and the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol. Specifically, staff has investigated four confirmed livestock mortalities, one probable livestock mortality, and one confirmed livestock injury impacting two different Asotin County livestock producers.
Affected livestock producers had proactive, nonlethal deterrents in place including range riders, human presence, delayed turnout of calves until they weighed over 200 pounds, avoiding areas with high wolf activity in grazing areas early in the season when calves were smaller, and removal of sick or injured livestock from grazing areas.
WDFW staff concluded there were no additional reactive nonlethal deterrents appropriate for the situation. It was also felt that taking one or two wolves from the Couse Pack would not jeopardize wolf recovery in the eastern Washington recovery region or statewide.
File photo of wolves from WDFW
