I am writing to update you on recent wolf activities in two packs.
Profanity Peak pack
-
On October 3, WDFW staff investigated a reported livestock depredation in the Profanity Peak pack area. Based on their investigation, staff classified this event as a confirmed wolf depredation, which injured one calf. Since July 8, we have documented a total of 15 depredations on livestock (10 confirmed and 5 probable depredations). Seven of those 15 depredations have occurred since the department initiated lethal removal in the pack on August 4. Given this pattern, we do not believe recent lethal removals are likely to achieve the goal of stopping depredations in the near future.
-
The Department has lethally removed seven wolves in response to the pack’s repeated depredations on livestock. This includes the removal of two adult females on Aug. 5, one adult female on Aug. 21, two adult males and one female pup on Aug. 22, and one adult male on Sept. 29. No wolves have been lethally removed since my last update on Sept. 30.
-
The Department’s removal operation is continuing, but as I’ve indicated before, we recognize full pack removal will be extremely challenging, given the rugged and heavily timbered landscape in the area and the wolves’ extensive range. We are continuing to communicate and coordinate with Ferry County Sheriff Ray Maycumber.
Dirty Shirt pack
-
On October 2, WDFW staff investigated a reported livestock depredation in the Dirty Shirt pack area. Based on their investigation, staff classified this event as a confirmed wolf depredation, which injured one cow. This was the first documented depredation by the pack this year.
-
The livestock producer’s cow-calf operation is on a state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grazing allotment. The producer turned livestock out on the allotment on June 5, 2016. The producer checked on the livestock regularly during the summer, except during haying season. In the last several years, the producer has not had any livestock mortalities and subsequently has not needed to perform sanitization on the allotment. The livestock producer did remove the injured cow from the allotment after the depredation investigation.. Due to the recent depredation event, the producer is currently removing their livestock from the allotment.
More information related to these activities can be found in the Chronology of events.
Please contact me at any time if you have questions or need more information.
– Donny Martorello, WDFW Wolf Policy Lead