Washington State Kills Off Another Wolf Pack

State wildlife authorities in Washington killed the last two remaining wolves of the Wedge Wolf Pack on August 13th. Reaction from wolf advocates was heated, blaming the state agency for expediency in its action, and failing to protect a state endangered species.  The state has killed thirty-four wolves, almost all of them for livestock conflicts in the Kettle River Range, prime wolf habitat.  Twenty-nine of the wolves killed have been at the demand of the same livestock owner. The extermination of a wolf pack in this area is a repeat of the 2012 slaughter in which all but one wolf of an eight member pack were killed.

Currently, the state has no mandate for non-lethal wolf control measures to be used before lethal removal is authorized.  Advocates have petitioned Gov. Inslee to reform the state's wolf management plan.  A activist on the state's wolf management advisory group was removed for disagreeing with the departments liberal use of lethal means.  Advocates say there is no scientific evidence that supports lethal removal as a long-term solution to conflicts with livestock owners.  The state has issued a kill order for the Leadpoint Pack, whose territory borders the former Wedge Pack territory.