Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff are considering lethal removal of a wolf or wolves from the Columbia wolf pack territory in southeast Washington in an effort to change pack behavior.
As of Jan. 2, 2025, staff have investigated six confirmed and six probable depredation events in the pack territory in Columbia County, resulting in two dead and 10 injured livestock impacting four different livestock producers within a 10-month period.
On Aug. 6, 2024, WDFW staff investigated an injured calf. The investigation revealed evidence consistent with a confirmed wolf depredation.
On Sept. 11, WDFW staff investigated an injured calf. This investigation revealed evidence consistent with a probable wolf depredation.
On Sept. 16, WDFW staff investigated a dead calf. The investigation revealed evidence consistent with a confirmed wolf depredation.
On Oct. 27, WDFW staff investigated three injured calves. The investigations revealed evidence consistent with confirmed wolf depredations.
On Nov. 6, WDFW staff investigated five injured calves with old and healed injuries. This investigation revealed evidence consistent with probable wolf depredations.
Most recently, on Dec. 29, WDFW staff investigated another dead calf. The investigation revealed evidence consistent with a confirmed wolf depredation.
WDFW staff discussed the depredations and use of non-lethal measures by producers in this pack territory. Non-lethal deterrents in this case include:
- Delayed turnout
- Removing sick and injured livestock
- Livestock carcass sanitation
- Managing grazing livestock by placing mineral blocks away from known wolf high-use areas
- Range riding/human presence
- Calving away from wolf high-use areas
- Deployment of fladry and fox lights
Staff are assessing how to most effectively address this situation moving forward and will provide a recommendation to WDFW’s Director within the next few days.
Columbia Pack depredations in Washington
| Date | Depredation |
|---|---|
| 8/06/24 | Confirmed injury of 1 calf |
| 9/11/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 9/16/24 | Confirmed mortality of 1 calf |
| 10/27/24 | Confirmed injury of 1 calf |
| 10/27/24 | Confirmed injury of 1 calf |
| 10/27/24 | Confirmed injury of 1 calf |
| 11/06/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 11/06/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 11/06/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 11/06/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 11/06/24 | Probable injury of 1 calf |
| 12/29/24 | Confirmed mortality of 1 calf |