Crying wolf and meaning it

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Dec 14, 20170

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wolf reporting

Signs of a wolf presence and an alleged wolf sighting have been reported from northern Whitman County and the Cheney area. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, there are no confirmed, established packs in the area.

“So far, they seem to be traveling through Whitman County,” said Madonna Luers, WDFW public information officer. “When it comes to wolves, we want to stay on top of that.”

Wolf sightings and signs can be reported to WDFW several ways. The easiest is the department’s toll free depredation reporting hotline 1-877-933-9847. There are also different paths on its website wdfw.wa.gov, to report and see where other reports and sightings have come from across the state. The easiest is to select the Enforcement tab and click report problems and violations. Reports can also be called into the WDFW office in Spokane.

In cases of poaching and risk to life, 911 should be contacted immediately.

Luers said that in the case of signs and sightings in northern Whitman County, a wildlife conflict specialist is already working with livestock producers.

“We have conflict specialists throughout the region,” she said. The specialists work with producers to determine if there is a conflict with or damage from wildlife. Usually this involves damage prevention, but if there is a wildlife attack they help file compensation claims.

If reports keep coming in about wolves in an area, the department steps up to assess the situation closer.

“When we get a cluster of comments about wolves, we set up trail cameras,” Luers said. She noted that when there is a pack established in an area, it quickly becomes apparent. If livestock is killed from a suspected wolf attack, they are able to do a necropsy to determine what animal actually killed it. Luers stated that each kind of animal kills in a different way, so the necropsy can tell the difference between dog, coyote and wolf attacks.

While wolves in eastern Washington have been federally de-listed from the endangered species list, they are still protected on the state level.

“You don’t shoot them,” she said. The only exception is if the wolf is caught in the act of attacking livestock or persons.

“Know the difference between wolves and coyotes,” she added. While she believed most people in eastern Washington know the difference, there is a graphic pointing them out on the WDFW’s website.

This map of reported wolf sightings is one of several items available for wolf reporting on wdfw.wa.gov.