Agents cannot confirm Endicott wolf sighting

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDWF) recently received a report of a possible wolf sighting in Endicott, but the department was unable to confirm the sighting.

A report was received in January of two wolves being spotted in or near Endicott over the course of two days, with tracks observed and spotted in the snow.

Madonna Luers, public information officer for the WDFW eastern region, told the Gazette the sighting was not able to be confirmed, though it is not impossible.

“We’ve had legitimate wolf sightings in Whitman County,” said Luers.

The department followed up on site in Endicott with the reported sighting, as the reporting party indicated that there was a wolf carcass near the river. The carcass, it turned out, was that of a black angus calf.

“The calf had been killed by coyotes, and coyotes were feeding on it,” said Luers. “It was not a wolf sighting at all.”

Luers said not all reported wolf sightings receive an on site inspection, but this one did because of the possibility of the carcass being a wolf.

“If we had a dead wolf, it would have been a huge deal,” said Luers.

Legitimate wolf sightings in the county are rare, Luers said, but if one is spotted, it should be reported to the WDWF office as soon as possible.

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