This update provides an overview of gray wolf conservation and management activities in Washington during August 2020.
Program updates
The Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) held a virtual meeting on Aug. 5-6. During this meeting, the WAG unanimously adopted new language clarifying the duties and expectations for range riders. Meeting minutes and recordings of the meeting are available here.
Communication and coordination
In July's monthly wolf update, WDFW reported the natural mortality of wolf 32M, formerly the breeding male of the Teanaway pack. In a video released this month, statewide wolf specialist Ben Maletzke reflects on the first wolf he radio-collared in this state-- the wolf that literally started the repopulation of wolves in Washington’s central Cascades, and a 'patriarch' of wolves in Washington.
Current population status and proactive conflict mitigation
The year-end minimum population count for 2019 was at least 108 known wolves in 21 known packs including at least 10 breeding pairs. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation reported 37 wolves in five packs. Annual wolf population surveys are conducted in the winter because wolf populations experience the least amount of natural fluctuation during this time. Counting the population at the end of each year allows for comparable year-to-year trends at a time of year when the wolf population is most stable. The year-end minimum population count for 2020 will be released in April 2021.
Reports of remote camera images or videos, wolf tracks, or sightings from the public are extremely helpful in locating previously undocumented wolf activity and potential new packs on the landscape. Please take photos of wolves or wolf sign (use some way to measure the size of a track) and upload them to the wolf reporting page via the following link: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/observations
Definitions: A “pack” is defined as two or more wolves traveling together in winter, and a “breeding pair” is defined as at least one adult male and one adult female wolf that raised at least two pups that survived until December 31. In any given year, the number of packs will always be greater than or equal to the number of breeding pairs. The known territories and more information for each pack can be viewed by clicking the pack name.
Beaver Creek pack
On Aug. 21, WDFW staff received a call regarding an injured calf. The livestock operator noticed the injured calf while gathering cattle and brought the calf back to the house. They examined a 200 pound male, late spring calf with injuries estimated to be two to three days old. The locations of the injuries were consistent with those caused by a canine. The size and degree of bite marks indicated the injuries could have been caused by a single wolf. However, there was no scene to investigate and it is not known if wolves were in the area at the time of the incident. Therefore, it was determined to be a probable wolf-caused injury within the Beaver Creek pack territory.
Butte Creek pack
No activity to report.
Carpenter Ridge pack
No activity to report.
Diobsud Creek pack
WDFW staff checked trail cameras in Diobsud Creek pack territory; no wolf activity was detected.
Dirty Shirt pack
No activity to report.
Goodman Meadows pack
No activity to report.
Grouse Flats pack
On Aug. 12, WDFW staff investigated an injured calf on a U.S. Forest Service public grazing allotment in Asotin County within the Grouse Flats pack territory. The investigation revealed open puncture wounds and an abscess on the calf’s rear legs. The injuries present on the steer calf were consistent with wolf depredation, but no swelling was present around the injuries except for swelling associated with the abscess. The injuries were classified as probable wolf. The calf was transported to the producer’s home pasture for treatment and will not be returned to the USFS grazing allotment.
Huckleberry pack
No activity to report.
Kettle pack
WDFW staff detected wolves on a trail camera used for long-term monitoring and documented signs of recent wolf activity.
Leadpoint pack
WDFW staff continue to work with the producer and Cattle Producers of Washington (CPoW) range riders to deter additional depredations in this pack territory. Several fox lights and a RAG box remain deployed around the affected pasture.
Lookout pack
No activity to report.
Loup Loup pack
No activity to report.
Naneum pack
Wolf collar data shows collared wolves in various parts of the Naneum pack territory also occupied by sheep and cattle. No negative interactions were reported or suspected this month. WDFW-contracted range riders are working in the pack territory.
Salmo pack
No activity to report.
Sherman pack
No activity to report.
Smackout pack
No activity to report.
Stranger pack
WDFW range riders continue to monitor for wolf activity and have reported no issues.
Strawberry pack
No activity to report.
Sullivan Creek pack
WDFW staff conducted a capture and collaring effort in the Sullivan Creek pack territory. No wolves were captured, but WDFW staff documented the presence of both adult wolves and pups.
Teanaway pack
A livestock guard dog was injured by a member of the Teanaway pack this month. The dog survived the confrontation and was removed from the area. No other livestock mortalities or injuries were reported this month in the territory. Range riders are working in the pack territory.
Togo pack
WDFW staff detected adult wolves and pups on several trail cameras deployed for long-term monitoring. No recent wolf-livestock conflict has been reported.
Touchet pack
No activity to report.
Tucannon pack
No activity to report.
Wedge pack
Following repeated depredations of cattle on grazing lands in Stevens County, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind reauthorized the lethal removal of Wedge pack wolves on Aug. 11. On Aug. 13, WDFW lethally removed the two known remaining members of the pack (an adult male and an adult female). A series of WDFW investigations had shown the pack responsible for 16 depredation incidents. The last documented livestock depredation in this pack territory occurred on Aug. 1.
Miscellaneous/lone wolves
- Vulcan Mountain area in Ferry County – A hunter detected a lone gray wolf on some of his trail cameras deployed for scouting purposes. WDFW staff continue to monitor the area for additional signs of wolf activity.
- North Shore Lake Chelan area - A capture and collaring effort was conducted for wolves in the south Sawtooth/North Shore of the Lake Chelan area. No wolves were captured. Several wolves have been documented consistently in this area by WDFW staff.
Note: The Frosty, Nason, Nc’icn, and Whitestone pack territories are within Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) lands and are managed under tribal authority. Information regarding these packs is proprietary and reported at the discretion of the CTCR.
Mortalities
WDFW lethally removed the two known remaining wolves from the Wedge pack in August. As of this update, WDFW has documented five wolf mortalities in 2020.
Depredation activity
Please report any suspected livestock depredations or the death or harassment of wolves to the WDFW Enforcement Hotline at 1-877-933-9847.
In 2019, 85% of known wolf packs were not involved in any documented livestock depredation.
Below is a summary of packs with documented depredation activity within the past ten months (some packs have depredation history prior to the current ten-month window; this timeframe is considered based on guidance from the wolf-livestock interaction protocol (PDF)).
|
Pack |
Depredation date |
Depredation type |
Proactive non-lethals |
Ten-month window |
Agency lethal removal actions |
|
Beaver Creek |
8/21/20 |
Probable injury of calf |
Yes |
6/21/21 |
|
|
Leadpoint |
6/19/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
4/19/21 |
|
|
|
6/19/20 |
Confirmed injury of two calves |
Yes |
4/19/21 |
|
|
|
6/19/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
4/19/21 |
|
|
|
6/28/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
4/28/21 |
|
|
|
8/3/20 |
Confirmed mortality of calf (calf died from injuries) |
Yes |
6/3/21 |
|
|
|
8/7/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/7/21 |
|
|
|
8/7/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/7/21 |
|
|
|
8/7/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/7/21 |
|
|
|
8/7/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf |
Yes |
6/7/21 |
|
|
|
8/10/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/10/21 |
|
|
|
8/10/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf |
Yes |
6/10/21 |
|
|
|
8/14/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/14/21 |
|
|
Togo |
6/6/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
4/6/21 |
|
|
Grouse Flats |
2/3/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf |
Yes |
12/3/20 |
Adult female lethally removed 9/25/19 |
|
|
8/12/20 |
Probable injury of calf |
Yes |
6/12/21 |
|
|
Smackout |
4/3/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
2/3/21 |
|
|
|
7/24/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf |
Yes |
5/24/21 |
|
|
Wedge |
5/11/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
3/11/21 |
|
|
|
5/19/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf |
Yes |
3/19/21 |
|
|
|
5/19/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
3/19/21 |
|
|
|
6/17/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
4/17/21 |
|
|
|
7/11/20 |
Confirmed injury of three calves |
Yes |
5/11/21 |
|
|
|
7/11/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
5/11/21 |
|
|
|
7/11/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
5/11/21 |
|
|
|
7/11/20 |
Confirmed injury of two calves |
Yes |
5/11/21 |
|
|
|
7/13/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
5/13/21 |
|
|
|
7/25/20 |
Confirmed kill of calf and injury of calf |
Yes |
5/25/21 |
Adult female lethally removed 7/27/20 |
|
|
7/29/20 |
Probable kill of calf |
Yes |
5/29/21 |
|
|
|
7/29/20 |
Confirmed injury of two calves |
Yes |
5/29/21 |
|
|
|
7/30/20 |
Confirmed injury of two calves |
Yes |
5/30/21 |
|
|
|
7/31/20 |
Confirmed injury of two calves |
Yes |
5/31/21 |
|
|
|
7/31/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
5/31/21 |
|
|
|
8/1/20 |
Confirmed injury of calf |
Yes |
6/1/21 |
Adult male and female lethally removed 8/13/20 |