WA investigating 4 dead wolves found in Stevens County

[hunter399]

All I can say is ......
I'm really not shocked or surprised.
I do love how so many people have an opinion of what stevens county should or shouldn't have.
With a majority of pro wolf people have not stepped a foot in this county.

[Elkaholic daWg]

All I can say is ......
I'm really not shocked or surprised.
I do love how so many people have an opinion of what stevens county should or shouldn't have.
With a majority of pro wolf people have not stepped a foot in this county.

 Oh Canada! Our hom.......................  Help us out whenever you can, eh

[Ridgeratt]

Just read some of the comments about the current game commissioners. Must be status quo for their next rulings.

And during WDFW’s April 9 annual wolf count briefing, which presented continued good news for the state’s population, which grew by 16 percent and topped 200 for the first time, Commissioner Lorna Smith brought up “pretty persistent growing rumors about a fairly large-scale poaching operation” and numbers of dead wolves that were “a lot larger” than in the agency report in front of her. However, state wolf biologist Ben Maletzke pointed out that they were speaking specifically about 2021’s numbers, which only show two illegal kills, and he urged anyone with information on poaching to get in touch with agency officers.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is currently in the middle of a debate about whether to pass binding, enforceable protocols around dealing with wolf-livestock conflicts, including lethal removals. During a May 13 meeting on the subject, Commissioner Melanie Rowland, a former federal attorney who appeared chummy with Bruegger at a recent commission retreat, tried to tie Stevens County wolf poaching rumors directly to the day’s discussion in pushing for court-litigable rules.



You would hope the commission would not rely on Rumors or Hearsay. Just look at the sound judgements they made on the Spring bear season.   

[GWP]

With wolves being such a ‘hotbed’ issue, WDFW has ‘generally’ keeps their cards pretty close. When I called to report a sighting in EWa many years ago the first person I spoke with was adamant there were no wolves there.
I made other calls and got a call back by the person that ‘knew what was going on’ that was tickled I could give him details of when and where as he knew of other sightings in the area.
Not putting everything ‘out there’ keeps the ‘pestering’ by various groups down.

[buckfvr]

As often as wdfw outright lies, how can anyone possibly trust/believe anything they say.   Sheriffs found them, ya right.  So much public deceit comes out of that agency, which by the way is an extension of the government, that a lot of people up here naturally dont believe any of it.  No trustworthy agencies anywhere anymore.  Sure, some trustworthy individuals here and there employed by different agencies, but top to bottom they are about deceit.  They establish a reply to any questions they think may be asked beforehand.

[KFhunter]

Hank is a good dude

[bearpaw]

You have to wonder why WDFW hasn't done dna to prove where those wolves are from? I can't help wondering if wolf groups dumped them there to cause trouble with the local ranchers and support their viewpoint?

I get the impression the wolves were found along a road that was snowmobiled, why would four wolves all die along a road?

This is not passing the smell test!

[KFhunter]

Excellent questions Bearpaw

[buckfvr]

Ya like someone wanted them found eventually, as in after the evidence has had time to degrade.

[callturner]

Years ago, 2 wolves were in the Tum Tum area. One was killed by a car and the dept said they were a hybrid. They later retracted their story when it was discovered the dead wolf was from a Idaho pack and had been chipped.

[hunter399]

Years ago, 2 wolves were in the Tum Tum area. One was killed by a car and the dept said they were a hybrid. They later retracted their story when it was discovered the dead wolf was from a Idaho pack and had been chipped.

Never did hear any info on that wolf hit north of colville last year.
Young,old,what pack it came from.
It's hard for me to believe wolf numbers ,when you see roadkill wolves.

[Ridgeratt]

$30,000 reward offered for info on Washington wolf killings
May 27, 2022 Updated 4 hrs ago

From The Center for Biological Diversity:

SEATTLE— Conservation and animal-protection groups announced a combined $30,000 reward today for information leading to a conviction in the illegal killing of four wolves in northeastern Washington earlier this year.

Deputies from the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office discovered four dead wolves on Feb. 18, while on a snowmobile patrol. An incident report indicates that the deputies reported the deaths immediately to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife but didn’t hear back from the agency. Department staff stated for the first time this week that they are actively investigating dead wolves in Stevens County but have not provided further details.


The report did not find any evidence of bullet holes or physical trauma to the wolves, which suggests their deaths may have been the result of poisoning.

“This is devastating news for Washington’s wolves, and each senseless killing must be fully investigated,” said Sophia Ressler, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “If poachers are allowed to get off scot-free, it only encourages them to kill again. Fish and Wildlife must follow through and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

“The Department has chosen to paint a glowing picture of wolf recovery in Washington, rather than be honest with the public about this tragedy,” said Samantha Bruegger executive director of Washington Wildlife First. “The public, and the wolves, deserve better. We call on the Department to be open with the public about the extent of the illegal killing of wolves in the state, and we ask the public to provide whatever information they can to aid in this investigation.”

“If this is in fact a poisoning situation, putting poison out on the landscape for any unsuspecting creature to feed on is one of the most loathsome things a person can do,” said Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense, a national nonprofit advocacy group. “It’s not just about killing wolves. It’s also about wanting them to suffer. Poisons also pose a serious threat to other wildlife and pets and are a public safety risk.”

“WDFW likes to boast widely about their successful wolf recovery efforts, while continuously hiding key information from the public about the detriment to wolves,” said Steph Taylor, president of Speak for Wolves. “Washington has a poaching problem and wildlife managers need to be more responsible when it comes to promoting education about co-existence with native endangered species. They also need to step up their game in holding these disturbed poachers accountable. Otherwise, this shoot, shovel, shut up culture will continue to thrive.”

“For the last few years, the Northwest Animal Rights Network (NARN) has been critical of wolf recovery efforts in Washington because these efforts have been wrought with politics every step of the way,” says Rachel Bjork, NARN's president. “The fact that we are just now hearing about these wolf deaths months later, and not directly from WDFW, leads us to believe that the department has no real interest in accountability to the public.”

"We are disgusted by this illegal wolf slaughter and disappointed in the way the Department has handled it," said Jocelyn Leroux, Washington and Montana director with Western Watersheds Project. "Washington's wolves deserve better treatment and the people of Washington deserve transparency.”

The $30,000 reward is being offered by the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Northwest Animal Rights Network, Predator Defense, Speak for Wolves, Washington Wildlife First, and Western Watersheds Project.

Anyone who might have information regarding the incident should call the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at (360) 902-2928, visit the department’s website and report a violation, or text WDFWTIP to 847411.


https://www.khq.com/news/30-000-reward-offered-for-info-on-washington-wolf-killings/article_645c1b2a-ddf6-11ec-a129-cf1ce19c4e69.html#user-comment-area

[LDennis24]

Maybe they are just in a highly catatonic state from too much melatonin after eating tons of beef liver and will come out of it if you wave some burger in front of their noses!

[Cougartail]

Suicide?

[Special T]

Questions.
1 Do you think 30K is enough cash to make some one snitch?
2 Do you think those groups would actually pay up?