For Immediate Release, October 26, 2018



Contact: Amaroq Weiss, (707) 779-9613, aweiss@biologicaldiversity.org Washington Wildlife Agency to Kill Last Two Members of Endangered Wolf Pack OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind today issued a new order authorizing the killing of the last two remaining wolves of the Old Profanity Territory pack in Ferry County. The targeted wolves are likely the pack’s last pup and its breeding male. The decision to kill wolves was made despite the fact that the cattle involved in a recent livestock predation were on a public lands grazing allotment past Oct. 15, when the rancher was legally required to remove his cattle. Additionally, calves with prior injuries were not removed from the field to avoid drawing in wolves or other predators. “It’s gut-wrenching that Washington’s wildlife managers are wiping out an entire wolf pack on public lands to satisfy the livestock industry,” said Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Washington residents have made it clear that they support wolf recovery, but state officials seem intent on gunning them down again and again. It’s disgusting.” Since 2012 the state has killed 21 state-endangered wolves, 17 of which were killed for the same livestock owner. That rancher is a vocal opponent of wolf recovery who has historically refused to implement meaningful nonlethal measures designed to protect his livestock from wolves. The state killed two members of the Old Profanity Territory pack this summer for the same livestock owner, shooting a five-month-old pup and then the pup’s mother. Cattle were drawn to a salt block near the pack’s rendezvous site, but the salt block was not removed. And though the agency recommended moving cattle out of the area, many still remain. In early October multiple calves were found with two-week-old injuries from wolves; these injured animals had been left on the range, even though it is well known that injured animals draw predators. The latest predation was found Oct. 23, eight days past the date the cattle were required by the terms of the grazing permit to be removed. As of today the state wildlife department reports that 20 to 35 cow-calf pairs still remain onsite. “Washington residents are fed up with wolf-management policies that reward livestock owners for irresponsible business practices,” said Weiss. “The wildlife department’s mission is to preserve and protect the state’s wildlife, not slaughter endangered wolves to keep the livestock industry happy.”