Wolf removal begins in Ferry County after several wolf attacks on livestock
Posted: Aug 03, 2016 4:53 PM PDT
Wolves are considered an endangered species in Washington state.
FERRY COUNTY, Wash. -
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be removing wolves from Ferry County after several wolf attacks on livestock.
Wildlife officials tell KHQ that the Profanity Peak wolf pack in northern Ferry County has attacked livestock at least four times this summer, which have been confirmed through radio tracking and tracks. This particular pack has 11 wolves, including pups.
A rancher who lost cattle in the attacks has taken many non-lethal steps to keep the wolves away, including removing old carcasses that attract wolves, guard dogs, turning out larger calves, and range riders that patrol the area.
Because those non-lethal efforts didn't work, Fish and Wildlife will take lethal action. The decision is based on a protocol that was established with a wolf advisory group that allows for the lethal removal of wolves in a situation in which efforts were made to dissuade the wolves from attacking that did not work.
Now, they will either be shooting from a helicopter, trapping, or shooting from the ground.
Wildlife officials say this is not something they want to do, but they feel it is the best option given the circumstances. The goal is to get the pack to stop eating livestock, and redirect them to eating what they should be feeding on: elk, deer, and moose.
The Profanity Peak pack is one of 19 in the state of Washington, 15 of which are in the northeastern part of the state. Wolves are considered an endangered species in Washington state.
http://www.khq.com/story/32680580/wolf-removal-begins-in-ferry-county-after-several-wolf-attacks-on-livestock 
