WDFW lethally removes adult wolf in Columbia County area, permits issued to remove one more
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A new pack has been established north of the Touchet and west of the Tucannon territories which has established a pattern of deprecating livestock in the Columbia County area. WDFW has removed one male from the pack and plan to remove one more. Permits to livestock producers are available, effective through December 10, 2021.
DAYTON–The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) lethally removed an adult, male wolf from an area in Columbia County that is north of the Touchet pack territory and west of the Tucannon pack territory on Thursday, November 18, 2021. This action taken by the WDFW was in response to five reports of wolf depredation events in the area since August 25.
The latest report came on November 15 when WDFW staff received a call from a livestock producer who reported a 400- to 500-pound calf was dead behind their house in a private pasture adjacent to their home. It is the third different livestock producer to be affected by depredations in the area since late August, resulting in two dead and four injured livestock, all attributed to wolves.
In response to all of the previous depredation reports in the area, on November 10, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized permits for the removal of up to two wolves from the area of new wolf pack activity north of the Touchet pack territory and west of the Tucannon pack territory in Columbia County. WDFW staff believe there are four adults and four pups in the pack.
WDFW lethally removed an adult, male member from the pack area. Permits issued to livestock producers who were suspended during WDFW operations have been reissued to allow for the removal of one wolf in addition to the one removed by WDFW.
The lethal removal permits expire when one wolf has been removed, livestock are moved from the affected pastures, or after December 10, 2021 (regardless of whether wolves have been removed), whichever comes first.
