Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Kills Wolf in Southeast Washington

Today, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced it shot and killed a wolf in Columbia County, Washington. The wolf was one of several adults and pups establishing new territory north of the Touchet pack and west of the Tucannon pack. 

“We are saddened the state resorted to killing one of these newly discoveRed Wolves,” said Zoë Hanley, northwest representative with Defenders of Wildlife. “What’s especially crushing is that this tragedy could have been prevented if adequate range riding had been in place. It is not necessary to kill wolves to stop depredations.” 

The wolves had injured four calves and killed two others this year prior to being killed. One more wolf can still be killed under the lethal removal permits issued by the state. 

“We’ll continue to work with WDFW and be a resource for local ranchers to promote proactive nonlethal methods that prioritize coexistence over killing wolves,” said Hanley.

This marks the first wolf killed in Washington this year. The  state authorized lethal removal of the Togo pack in northeastern Washington in August 2022, however, depredations ceased following the lethal order and no wolves were killed.