This report provides information about wolf conservation and management activities undertaken by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife from Aug. 15 to Sept. 14, 2017. It complements weekly reports posted on this site that focus on management actions directed at wolf packs subject to lethal removal due to predation on livestock.
Statewide wolf activity
In late July, WDFW determined that a dispersing animal from the Dirty Shirt pack had met up with a dispersing wolf from British Columbia. At this time, it appears that those wolves may be establishing a territory in northern Stevens County. WDFW will continue to monitor this activity throughout the fall and winter.
In addition, other wolves previously collared in Profanity, Smackout, and Goodman Meadows have dispersed to northern Ferry County, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the Idaho Panhandle, respectively.
On August 17, WDFW caught and released a young-of-the-year wolf from the Beaver Creek Pack while attempting to collar an adult in that pack.
Proactive deterrence measures
Wolf packs in Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties
WDFW staff members continue to administer Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements for Livestock and WDFW Contracted Range Riders for the new fiscal year that began on July 1, 2017. Most producers using deterrents in grazing operations on large areas of public and private lands have engaged range riders.
WDFW has contracted with up to eight range riders deployed on Forest Service allotments during this timeframe. There is also an effort from Conservation Northwest (CNW) to deploy three range riders on large grazing allotments, primarily in Ferry County. In all, at least 25 allotments are now monitored by range riders contracted by WDFW, CNW, and producers with Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements for Livestock. Four WDFW staff members also monitored grazing allotments throughout August. These allotments overlap territories occupied by the Carpenter Ridge, Dirty Shirt, Goodman Meadows, Huckleberry, Profanity, Sherman, Smackout, Stranger, and Wedge wolf packs.
WDFW staff members are also working with range riders and producers on deterrent measures in these areas. WDFW personnel are rotating through deterrents such as fladry and FOX lights (to increase their effectiveness) in areas of confirmed wolf depredations during this grazing season. In other areas of northeastern Washington, WDFW has provided various types of assistance to ranchers grazing livestock in the pack areas noted below during August:
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Having producers contact WDFW when livestock carcasses are discovered so they can be investigated (Dirty Shirt [disperser], Sherman, Stranger, and Wedge);
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Removing or treating sick or injured livestock from pastures in areas where wolves are present (when feasible);
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Using range riders to check livestock in areas where wolves are present or in the vicinity. (Carpenter Ridge, Dirty Shirt, Goodman Meadows, Huckleberry, Profanity, Sherman, Smackout, Stranger, and Wedge);
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Increasing the frequency of human presence checking livestock in areas with wolves or when wolves are in the vicinity of livestock pastures (Carpenter Ridge, Dirty Shirt, Goodman Meadows, Huckleberry, Profanity, Sherman, Smackout, Skookum, Stranger, and Wedge);
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Installing temporary FOX lights (Sherman and Smackout);
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Hazing wolves with non-lethal munitions to frighten them away from livestock (Smackout);
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Expanding hazing once a depredation event occurs (Sherman);
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Using electric fencing and other predator-resistant barriers to keep wolves out of pastures/areas (Huckleberry, Stranger, and Skookum);
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Using temporary fladry around livestock pastures (Smackout);
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Sharing wolf-collar data for areas where collars are deployed (Carpenter Ridge, Dirty Shirt, Goodman Meadows, Profanity, Sherman, Smackout, and Stranger);
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Using trail cameras to track livestock and carnivore movements in allotments (Dirty Shirt, Profanity, and Sherman).
Wolf packs in Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla Counties
Producers throughout the areas of known wolf activity have deployed daily range riders on large tracks of public and private lands across south east Washington. Also two WDFW staff monitored grazing allotments throughout September. These allotments overlap territories occupied by the Tucannon and Touchet packs.
WDFW is also working with producers and their range riders throughout these counties (Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla) to deploy proactive deterrence measures through the month of September in known pack territories and areas of known wolf activity.
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Removal of sick or injured livestock (Tucannon and Touchet).
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Using range riders to monitor livestock in areas of wolf activity and areas adjacent to wolf activity (Tucannon and Touchet).
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Increasing human presence checking livestock in areas with wolf activity and areas adjacent to wolf activity (Tucannon and Touchet).
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Using herding dog to concentrate livestock in areas where they can be monitored (Tucannon and Touchet).
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Removal of carcasses from grazing allotments and pastures (Tucannon and Touchet).
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Having producer report injured or deceased livestock to WDFW so they can be investigated (Tucannon and Touchet).
Depredation Investigations
Department staff conducted investigations of several reported wolf depredations since the last monthly update (August 14, 2017). These investigations are listed below noting dates, species affected, county and WDFW’s determination.
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August 14 investigation on a cow in Stevens County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 14 investigation on a cow in Stevens County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 14 investigation on a calf in Stevens County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 15 investigation on a sheep in Ferry County: Determination was domestic dog depredation.
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August 17 investigation on a calf in Stevens County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 24 investigation on a calf in Ferry County: Determination was unknown cause of death.
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August 24 investigation on a calf in Ferry County: Determination was unknown cause of death.
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August 24 investigation on a calf in Ferry County: Determination was confirmed wolf depredation by the Sherman pack (see details in August 24 update).
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August 25 investigation of a calf in Ferry County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 28 investigation of a domestic dog in Stevens County: Determination was coyote.
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August 28 investigation on a calf in Ferry County: Determination was confirmed wolf depredation by Sherman Pack (see details in September 1 and 8 updates).
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August 29 investigation on a calf in Stevens County: Determination was non-depredation.
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August 31 investigation on a cow in Stevens County: Determination was confirmed wolf depredation by one or more wolves in northern Stevens County (dispersed wolf from Dirty Shirt pack).
Department staff conducting the investigation found the cow carcass in three pieces, two of the pieces consisted of the majority of the cow remains. The cow was mostly consumed except for hide on the right front leg, along the spine, on both rear legs, and most of the skeleton was present. Four pieces of hide and tissue were collected and placed in a large container of water to rehydrate overnight. Bite lacerations and associated discoloration of muscle tissue underneath were discovered on the right front armpit area.
Bite lacerations, puncture wounds, and hemorrhaging found on the hide were documented on the left rear leg. GPS collar data indicate that a dispersed member from the Dirty Shirt pack has been frequenting the area for the last several weeks with more than 20 point locations within approximately a mile of the pasture. After a thorough investigation of the scene, a field necropsy, and examination of hide samples collected of the cow, it was determined to be a confirmed wolf depredation. The determination was based on scat, GPS collar data, reports of wolves in the area in the last two weeks, signs of a struggle, and bite marks with associated hemorrhaging.
Non-lethal deterrence measures employed by the producer who owned the livestock involved in the confirmed wolf depredation on August 31 in Stevens County included:-
Proactive measures: The livestock are in fenced pastures near a residence that is rented out by the livestock producer. The livestock are checked daily by the producer, his family, or the individuals that rent the house near the pastures. Department staff notified the producer when the collared wolf from the Dirty Shirt pack dispersed to the area. At that time, the department’s contracted range riders began monitoring livestock on nearby allotments where the producer also owns and grazes livestock. The individuals that rent the nearby house then also started to periodically use a spot-light at night check on the livestock.
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Responsive measures: After the confirmed wolf depredation on August 31, FOX lights were installed along the west edge of the grazing pasture where wolves would likely approach from, and in the middle of the same pasture where the livestock bed at night. FOX lights were also installed on a second pasture about one mile away, where the producer has additional livestock. The department’s contracted range riders also increased human presence around the producer’s livestock on nearby grazing allotments.
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September 5 investigation on a cow and accompanying calf in Asotin County, determination was a confirmed wolf depredation event by one or more wolves in the Tucannon pack.
​​​​​​​Department staff conducting the investigation documented an injured calf with a roughly 9”x5”x5” deep section of muscle and skin missing from the left hind quarter of the calf. The calf also had contusions and hemorrhaging behind both front legs and in front of the right rear leg. There were also contusions on the left rear shank of the calf. The injured cow had bite marks around her left ear and her lower left jaw showed signs of hemorrhaging. The cow also had contusions on the lower portions of both front legs as well as a contusion on the left hind quarter. The cow was also limping on her left rear leg. The injuries on both animals were consistent with injures from one or more wolves. Based the factors and evidence, and the Wolf-Livestock Interactions Protocol, the incidents were classified as one confirmed wolf depredation event.
Weekly update for Smackout pack
There have been no new developments in the Smackout pack since that last weekly update on August 31. WDFW continued to work with area producers and range riders to evaluate the status of deterrence measures and carnivore sign in the area of livestock.
The evaluation period is ongoing. Per the protocol, the department may consider initiating another incremental lethal removal period if a wolf depredation is documented during the evaluation period.