More sheep have been killed by a wolf or wolves in northwestern Whitman County since the county’s first attack in decades occurred on Dec. 9.
On Sunday, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials investigated three dead sheep where about 1,200 sheep are being pastured in stubble fields near the Spokane and Lincoln county borders.
One of three Anatolian shepherds protecting the sheep has been missing for about a week and is presumed dead, the ranchers said. The mother and sister of the missing 4-year-old male dog also were with the sheep but are unharmed.
Both wolf depredation events occurred on sheep belonging to Whitman County Commissioner Art Swannack near his ranch north of Lamont.
Wildlife officials confirmed on Wednesday that one pregnant ewe was killed by a wolf or wolves. The other two sheep could not positively be confirmed as wolf kills because the remains were too sparse, said Nate Pamplin, the agency’s assistant director in Olympia.
“Apparently, some of the sheep got out of the pasture that is surrounded by an electric fence on Dec. 14,” he said. Some sheep escaped the fence after a post pulled out from the freezing-thawing ground in a draw, he said.
The sheep were killed a half mile outside of the fenced area.
The sheep killed on Dec. 9 also had escaped through a portion of downed fence.
After formally accepting the resignation of police ombudsman Tim Burns on Wednesday, the Police Ombudsman Commission appointed one of their own to serve on the selection committee to find Burns’ replacement.
Adrian Dominguez, a Spokane Regional Health District epidemiologist, will fill one of five seats on the committee, which is tasked with recommending three finalists.
Commissioners acted after the City Council decided Monday to allocate their seat on the selection committee to an ombudsman commission member. Other seats will be appointed by the mayor, the Spokane Police Guild and the Spokane Police Lieutenants and Captains Association. The fifth member will be selected by the other four.
The selection committee will review candidates for the police ombudsman position and choose three finalists, with a final decision to be made by the ombudsman commission.
With Burns’ resignation official, the selection committee must meet within 30 days.