Washington wildlife managers said they’re working to avoid a repeat of last year’s grazing season, when wolves killed at least 28 sheep and two cows. The attacks led to the Department of Fish and Wildlife killing two wolves.
Wildlife managers have identified seven packs that have the highest potential for conflicts based on the pack size and the proximity of sheep and cattle, said Donny Martorello, the department’s carnivore specialist. Department employees are trying to collar wolves in each of those packs so they can alert ranchers. The department also is helping ranchers fund other measures to deter wolves.
Dave Dashiell’s sheep were attacked by the Huckleberry Pack last summer. The department confirmed 28 sheep deaths from wolf attacks, but Dashiell said he lost about 300 sheep in his band of 1,500. Many animals simply disappeared, he said.
“We were in the same spot (in 2013) and never saw a wolf or heard a wolf, but last year we got slaughtered,” he said.
Dashiell said he’s moving his sheep band to a different area this summer, where no wolves are known to be present. He plans to hire extra herders and use more guard dogs. The land is more open, which should make it easier to track the sheep, he said.
Becky Kramer