By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife marksman has killed five members of the Wedge Wolf Pack, which has been preying on cattle in the area.
The wolves were shot Sept. 25 and 26 near the Canadian border. The marksman was in a helicopter.
With about eight wolves, the pack has killed or injured at least 20 cattle from the Diamond M Ranch, according to owner Len McIrvin. More cattle are missing and presumed dead.
Department specialists and other wildlife experts believe the wolves have become dependent on livestock, department director Phil Anderson said in a press release.
“All the wolf experts we’ve talked to agree that we have no alternative but to remove the entire pack,” Anderson said. “By doing that, we will preserve the opportunity for the recovery of gray wolves in balance with viable livestock operations.”
That’s a tall order, according to McIrvin, who said wolves and livestock have never been able to co-exist. He estimated he’s lost 20 percent of his cattle in the Wedge pack area.
While McIrvin approves of the decision to kill the pack, he remained skeptical of the state’s ability to follow through.
“They’ve been trying all summer to get a wolf,” he said prior to the five kills, noting the state originally killed one.
Even if the pack is killed, McIrvin expects more wolves to invade the territory, although it may buy his operation a year or two of relief, he said.
“They try and make this sound like an isolated pack; we’ve got wolves all over Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties,” he said. “Every cattleman is going to suffer terrific losses if we can’t stem the tide.”
McIrvin believes eventually the responsibility will revert back to ranchers to protect their livestock.
“It’s not the wolf we’re fighting, it’s the government regulations to keep us from protecting our property,” he said.