This is an update for the WA139 group following the lethal removal authorization by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind on Aug. 23.
On Aug. 23, 2023, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized the lethal removal of one to two wolves from the WA139 wolf group territory in response to repeated depredations of cattle on private and public grazing lands in Asotin County. The authorization is consistent with the guidance of the state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the lethal removal provisions of the department's wolf-livestock interaction protocol (PDF).
WDFW has since lethally removed an adult male wolf and a yearling female wolf from the WA139 wolf group territory. With the removal of two wolves, the lethal removal authorization is now expired.
If WDFW documents additional livestock depredations indicating a renewed pattern of depredation, WDFW may initiate another lethal removal action following the guidelines of the Wolf Plan and wolf-livestock interaction protocol (PDF).
Previous updates
2023 WA139 group updates
- Aug. 23
- Aug.18
- July 2023 monthly update
- June 2023 monthly update
- May 2023 monthly update
- March 2023 monthly update
- February 2023 monthly update
WDFW will provide a final report on this and any other lethal removal actions during 2023 in the Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2023 Annual Report, which will be published during spring 2024.
A summary of all documented depredation activity within the past 10 months is included in every monthly wolf update.