Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Wolves involved in livestock deaths discussed
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released December’s Monthly Wolf Report on Jan. 6. Among the issues discussed in the report are: statistics of wolves involved in livestock death in the year 2021 and classes and directives involving strategic ranching on land with wolves and current population numbers around the state of Washington. Here is a summary of the report.
WDFW staff as well as the Defenders of Wildlife and Strategic Ranching held a workshop titled “Strategic Ranching on a Landscape with Wolves.”
The workshop was aimed to help Klickitat County livestock producers and land managers prepare for future situations where wolf populations are established around livestock operations in the South Cascades region. 35 community members attended the workshop.
The year-end population counts for 2021 was also released by the WDFW. There was a minimum population count of at least 206 known wolves in 33 packs, including at least 19 breeding pairs. The year-end minimum for 2022 will be released in April of 2023.
Mortality rates for wolves and livestock were also involved in the report.
The WDFW documented 27 total wolf mortalities in 2022, with a recent one being documented in Asotin County. It was reported that the wolf had dispersed into Washington from Oregon. There was no known cause of death to be determined and little of the carcass remained at the time of the investigation, according to the report. Even though the wolf was from Oregon, it is still counted in the Washington mortality numbers due to it dying in the state.
The WDFW also reported that, in 2021, 76 percent of wolves were not involved in any documented livestock depredation, and there were no recorded depredation events in December – a trend that has been the norm from 2017-2022.
The last recorded case of depredation happened on Oct. 12 of 2022, when there was a confirmed mortality of a calf via the Smackout wolf pack. There were 26 total documented depredation cases in 2022. Wolves were confirmed as the causes for 23 of the cases, and were listed as “probable” causes for three.
The WDFW is also continuing to investigate the poisoning that led to the deaths of six wolves within the Wedge Pack territory of Stevens County. The investigation is ongoing and started in Feb. 2022.
Anyone with information regarding the case can call the WDFW poaching hotline at 877-933-9847 or text a tip to 847411. Rewards are available for information leading to the conviction, totaling $53,900.
The full Monthly Wolf Report can be viewed at:
Reader Comments(0)