Conservation Groups File Suit Over Plans To Kill Wolves

Two conservation groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the Washington wildlife officials from killing members of the Togo wolf pack in the Northeastern Washington.  The Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands announced the lawsuit Monday afternoon.  The state issued the order to kill members of a wolf pack Monday morning noting the wolves preyed on cattle and other livestock.

“It’s outrageous that Washington wildlife officials want to kill more wolves from the state’s small and recovering wolf population,” said Amaroq Weiss, the Center’s West Coast wolf advocate. “Washingtonians overwhelmingly want wolves recovered, and current science says that killing wolves to prevent conflict is counterproductive. This isn’t the Old West anymore.”

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says members of the Togo pack have preyed on cattle three times in the past 30 days, and six times in the past 10 months.  In the most recent depredation, state officials say one or more wolves were responsible for injuring a calf on a federal grazing allotment in Ferry County.  The department said it will use humane hunting methods, with likely options including shooting from a helicopter, trapping, and shooting from the ground.

The wolf hunts have sparked controversy in the past, with environmental groups saying the state is too quick to kill wolves.

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