WDFW: Wolves Not Hurting Deer & Elk

According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the growing population of wolves in eastern Washington does not appear to be hurting the populations of deer, elk and other ungulates.  A report released last week by WDFW looked at ungulate populations over the last two years.  The report authors concluded that none of the ungulate populations in the assessment, which included elk, moose, deer and bighorn sheep, showed clear signs of being limited by predation from wolves.

Gray wolves were hunted to extinction in Washington early in the past century.  But the animals started migrating into the state in the early 2000s from Idaho and Canada.  The first wolf pack was documented by DFW in 2008.

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