On Sept. 12, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized “incremental” removal of wolves from the Old Profanity Territory (OPT), after confirming that one or more pack members killed one calf and injured five others from Sept. 4-7 on a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) grazing allotment.
On Sept. 16, WDFW staff removed one member of the OPT pack. One day after the wolf was removed. WDFW confirmed that an adult cow was killed by wolves in the same area as OPT. WDFW staff investigating the cow carcass determined that it was likely killed prior to the removal of the wolf.
Days later, on Sept. 21, WDFW documented five additional livestock depredations by the OPT pack, bringing the total to 12 wolf depredations. The five most recent were confirmed injuries to calves, which likely occurred five to seven days earlier.
The department’s incremental removal action in the OPT pack is ongoing.
The livestock producer who owns the depredated livestock continues to use contracted range riders to keep watch over his herd, is removing or securing livestock carcasses to avoid attracting wolves to the rest of the herd, and is removing sick and injured livestock from the grazing area until they are healed.
WDFW previously provided information on the wolves from the OPT on the following dates:
2018 Updates
- Sept 7, 11, 12, 14, 18.