Because a subsidized rancher near the Canadian border lost a few calves recently, an entire wolf pack has been ordered exterminated by the State of Washington. The state government said if the predation is confirmed it will "remove the pack from the area" since its "pattern of predation" makes it a poor candidate for relocation. A female from the pack has already been killed. The rancher complaining about predation said he lost 11 calves and a bull last year and expects more losses this year. He says compensation is not the answer since there is a limit placed by the state of $5,000 for each of 10 ranches. The entire state budget of $50,000 could be used by his ranch alone he
obnoxiously claims,
so he wants the wolves eliminated by trapping or poison. The state biologist involved in the case says he realizes the need for more compensation money as the wolf population in Washington state grows.
Defenders of Wildlife, a conservation organization heavily involved in wolf preservation, says the evidence for wolves killing the livestock in question is not solid enough to justify killing the entire pack. The Wedge Pack is the state's eighth wolf pack
[map]. Washington has experienced something of a population boom in wolves since the neighboring state, Idaho, declared war on wolves. The Wedge Pack is tracked by GPS collars, so state hunters will have no trouble locating and killing them all. The Pack's four adults and their dependent pups will die unless you call the state Governor, Christine Gregoire, (360-902-4111) or Phil Anderson, Director of Fish &Wildlife, (360-902-2200) and ask that non-lethal means be used first,
ifa public review of the predation opinion finds it justified. Make a difference--save a wolf.
Defenders of Wildlife, a conservation organization heavily involved in wolf preservation, says the evidence for wolves killing the livestock in question is not solid enough to justify killing the entire pack. The Wedge Pack is the state's eighth wolf pack [map]. Washington has experienced something of a population boom in wolves since the neighboring state, Idaho, declared war on wolves. The Wedge Pack is tracked by GPS collars, so state hunters will have no trouble locating and killing them all. The Pack's four adults and their dependent pups will die unless you call the state Governor, Christine Gregoire, (360-902-4111) or Phil Anderson, Director of Fish &Wildlife, (360-902-2200) and ask that non-lethal means be used first, ifa public review of the predation opinion finds it justified. Make a difference--save a wolf.