This update provides an overview of gray wolf conservation and management activities in Washington during May 2019.
Program updates
WDFW will begin a public engagement process later this year that will propose the development of a post-recovery wolf conservation and management plan. The evaluation of wolf translocation will be incorporated into this process. Wolves are currently listed as a state endangered species in Washington. The post-recovery planning process is being initiated proactively because WDFW anticipates it will likely take two to three years to complete. The post-recovery plan will guide WDFW in long-term wolf conservation and management, and will evaluate various wolf management tools, including translocation. WDFW will announce the public scoping for the post-recovery plan and associated public meetings later this year. For more information, see the update posted May 24.
WDFW has contracted with Responsive Management to conduct a statewide study in Washington about residents’ opinions on wolves and wolf management. State residents may receive a phone call from Responsive Management asking them to participate in a brief telephone survey about the department’s management of wolves and related efforts. Selection of residents for participation is random to maintain a scientifically valid study. If you receive a call at home or on your cell phone, please consider participating in the study to assist the department in better understanding residents’ opinions and attitudes toward wolves in Washington.
Communication and coordination
The Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) had a conference call in May to review changes to the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol before the upcoming grazing season. Notes from the meeting are available on the WAG webpage.
Throughout the month of May, conflict staff in District 3 (Tucannon, Touchet, Grouse Flats, and Butte Creek pack territories) have been working closely with producers in preparation for cattle to be moved onto private summer pastures and WDFW and United States Forest Service (USFS) allotments. Conflict staff also met with USFS officials to share information pertaining to wolf activity around USFS grazing leases and review proposed grazing schedules. As of the end of May, many producers are moving onto private pastures and WDFW grazing allotments. Producers with USFS grazing leases will be moving onto USFS grazing allotments from June 1 through June 10. Conflict staff also saw an increase in reports of wolf activity and sightings across the area in the month of May.
Current population status and proactive conflict mitigation
The year-end minimum population count for 2018 was at least 126 known wolves in 27 known packs including at least 15 breeding pairs. 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 2019 will be released in April 2020.
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.
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
No activity to report.
Butte Creek pack
No activity to report.
Carpenter Ridge pack
No activity to report.
Diobsud Creek pack
No activity to report.
Dirty Shirt pack
No activity to report.
Goodman Meadows pack
No activity to report.
Grouse Flats pack
Wolf biologists captured and collared a yearling male on May 5.
Huckleberry pack
No activity to report.
Leadpoint pack
No activity to report.
Lookout pack
Wolf biologists captured and collared a yearling male on May 30 and an adult male on June 1.
Loup Loup pack
A male wolf collared on March 1 dispersed from the Loup Loup pack area and headed west into Skagit County but subsequently looped back and is currently in the Pasayten Wilderness area.
Nanuem pack
Sheep and cattle have turned out into the Naneum Pack area. No conflict incidents have been reported during this time period.
Old Profanity Territory (OPT) pack
No activity to report.
Salmo pack
No activity to report.
Sherman pack
No activity to report.
Smackout pack
No activity to report.
Stranger pack
Wolf biologists captured and collared a yearling female in the Stranger pack on May 13. On May 26, an unmarked yearling female wolf that was most likely part of the Stranger pack was shot and killed when she came out of the forest and turned toward a pair of hikers on a trail at 30 yards. The incident was immediately reported to WDFW law enforcement, who performed an investigation and determined the hikers were within their legal rights to shoot the wolf as they were concerned for their safety. Information about wolf behavior and what to do if you encounter a wolf is available here.
Strawberry pack
No activity to report.
Teanaway pack
Wolf biologists captured and re-collared an adult male in the Teanaway pack on May 12.
Togo pack
No activity to report.
Touchet pack
Wolf biologists captured and collared an adult female in the Touchet pack on May 17.
Tucannon pack
No activity to report.
Wedge pack
No activity to report.
Miscellaneous/lone wolves
No activity to report.
Note: The Frosty, Nason, Nc’icn, and Whitestone pack territories are within the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) reservation and are managed under tribal authority. Information regarding these packs is proprietary and reported at the discretion of the CCT.
Mortalities
As stated above, on May 26, an unmarked, yearling female wolf that was most likely part of the Stranger pack was shot and killed when she came out of the forest and turned toward a pair of hikers on a trail at 30 yards. The incident was immediately reported to WDFW law enforcement, who performed an investigation and determined the hikers were within their legal rights to shoot the wolf as they were concerned for their safety. Information about wolf behavior and what to do if you encounter a wolf is available in the living with wildlife section of the gray wolf species page.
WDFW biologists received a mortality signal from a collared wolf along Highway 20 near the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge in Stevens County. WDFW law enforcement responded to the scene on May 27 and recovered a female wolf that had died from a gunshot wound. Anyone who might have information regarding the incident is encouraged to called WDFW at 360-902-2928, visit the department’s website by clicking on violations, or text WDFWTIP to 847411. Those who provide information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward or bonus points for special permit hunting opportunities. In addition, through a Memorandum of Understanding with WDFW, Conservation Northwest offers standing rewards for those who provide information that leads to a poaching conviction in Washington state under the following circumstances for wolves: up to $7,500 for information helping to convict anyone who has illegally killed a wolf in Washington. Reward funds are provided by Conservation Northwest’s members and donors.
On June 4, the Center for Biological Diversity pledged an additional $2,500 to the reward amount, increasing the total amount to $10,000.
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.
Below is a summary of packs with documented depredation activity within the past 10 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 nonlethals |
10-month window |
Agency lethal removal actions |
|
Togo |
8/8/18 |
Confirmed kill to cow |
Yes |
6/8/19 |
|
|
Togo |
8/10/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
6/10/19 |
|
|
Togo |
8/18/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
6/18/19 |
Adult male lethally removed 9/2/18 |
|
Togo |
9/7/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf, death later |
Yes |
7/7/19 |
|
|
Togo |
10/26/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
8/26/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/5/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/5/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/5/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/5/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/5/18 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
Yes |
7/5/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/6/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/6/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/7/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/7/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/11/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/11/19 |
Juvenile lethally removed 9/16/18 |
|
OPT |
9/17/18 |
Confirmed kill to cow |
Yes |
7/17/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/21/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/21/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/21/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/21/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/21/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/21/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/21/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/21/19 |
|
|
OPT |
9/21/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
7/21/19 |
Adult female lethally removed 9/28/18 |
|
OPT |
10/5/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf, death later |
Yes |
8/5/19 |
|
|
OPT |
10/7/18 |
Probable injury to calf |
Yes |
8/7/19 |
|
|
OPT |
10/11/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
8/11/19 |
|
|
OPT |
10/23/18 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
Yes |
8/23/19 |
|
|
OPT |
1/4/19 |
Confirmed kill to cow |
No |
N/A |
|
|
OPT |
1/4/19 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
No |
N/A |
|
|
OPT |
1/4/19 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
No |
N/A |
|
|
Smackout |
8/20/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
6/20/19 |
|
|
Smackout |
10/14/18 |
Confirmed kill to heifer |
Yes |
8/14/19 |
|
|
Smackout |
10/21/18 |
Confirmed kill to heifer |
Yes |
8/21/19 |
|
|
Smackout |
10/31/18 |
Confirmed kill to heifer |
Yes |
8/31/19 |
|
|
Smackout |
11/1/18 |
Confirmed kill to heifer |
Yes |
9/1/19 |
Adult male lethally removed 11/8/18 |
|
Single wolf |
11/27/18 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
No |
9/27/19 |
|
|
Grouse Flats |
8/23/18 |
Confirmed injury to calf |
Yes |
6/23/19 |
|
|
Grouse Flats |
9/2/18 |
Confirmed kill to calf |
Yes |
7/2/19 |
|
|
Grouse Flats |
10/28/18 |
Confirmed injury to cow |
Yes |
8/28/19 |
|