WALLA WALLA, Washington — Gray wolves, which were classified as an endangered species in Washington in 1973, have been returning to Washington on their own after wolves in eastern Washington were removed from federal protections under the ESA in 2011. Officials say they are dispersing from populations in other states and provinces. Wolves in western Washington continue to be classified as an endangered species under federal law.
Producers throughout the areas of known wolf activity have deployed daily range riders on large private pastures across southeast Washington. Two WDFW staff members monitored private grazing allotments. Producers and range riders moved cattle off grazing allotments in the Umatilla National Forest in mid-October. Producers and range riders are searching for a small number of unaccounted for cattle on the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) grazing allotments. These allotments overlap territories occupied by the Tucannon and Touchet wolf packs. Multiple sightings of wolves and wolf tracks were also reported throughout Walla Walla, Columbia, Asotin, and Garfield counties in March.
A recent report from The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) says that in 2017, the minimum estimated wolf population in Washington increased by approximately 6 percent over the 2016 minimum count to at least 122 known wolves in 22 known packs including at least 14 breeding pairs. Pack sizes ranged from 2 to 13 wolves. State, federal, and tribal biologists captured 12 wolves from 12 different packs and monitored a total of 22 unique radio collared wolves from 15 different packs, plus one lone wolf with no pack affiliation, that existed in Washington at some point during 2017. WDFW documented 14 mortalities in Washington during the year including three due to agency removal actions, three legal harvest, two caught-in-the-act, two vehicle collisions, and four other human caused that are still under investigation
WDFW investigators confirmed 8 cattle as being killed by wolves and none as being probable wolf-kills. Five cattle were confirmed to have been injured by wolves. Five packs were involved in at least one confirmed livestock mortality. WDFW processed two damage claims and paid a total of $3,700 to compensate livestock producers who experienced losses caused by wolves last year.
WDFW says they are working to manage the recovering endangered species, guided by a citizen-developed plan to address conflicts with livestock and impacts to other wildlife species. Citizen reports of wolf activity and problems are encouraged as staff monitor the growth of Washington’s wolves.