OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Legislation signed Tuesday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee adds $10 to the cost of a personalized Washington license plate with the money going to help compensate livestock owners for wolf kills.
The legislation was requested by the state Fish and Wildlife Department to reimburse farmers and ranchers who lose animals to the recovering wolf population.
State wildlife managers say the wolf population doubled in Washington last year and they now estimate there are 50 to 100 gray wolves in at least 10 packs. Most of the wolves are in the northeast corner of the state in Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.