WDFW: Additional NE Washington Wolves To Be Killed

Wolves from two packs that have been preying on cattle in the northeastern Washington will be killed.  The state Department of Fish and Wildlife made that announcement Wednesday morning, saying hunters will kill members of the Smackout Pack in Stevens County and members of the Togo Pack in Ferry County.  Wolves from the two packs have continued to prey on cattle despite efforts to get them to stop, agency director Kelly Susewind said.

“WDFW staff have confirmed that on five separate occasions since Aug. 20, one or more members of the Smackout pack injured one calf and killed four heifers on private pastures,” WDFW officials said.

Meanwhile, the agency documented six depredations by members of the Togo Pack in the past 10 months, and the remaining three wolves in that pack will be killed.  The hunting of wolves can begin on Thursday.

Last month the state decided to kill the remaining two wolves from the Old Profanity Peak Territory Pack, which has repeatedly preyed on cattle in Ferry County.  The Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups have criticized the killing of wolves to save cattle grazing on public lands.

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