Eli Francovich / The Spokesman’s Review

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will attempt to kill up to two wolves in the Togo pack area following repeated attacks on livestock.

WDFW director Kelly Susewind authorized the killing of one to two wolves on Monday. The killings are “not expected to impair the wolf population’s ability to meet the statewide or local recovery goal,” according to a news release from the agency.

“In previous years, WDFW has documented 12 to 30 deaths per year and the population has continued to grow and expand its range,” the statement said. “The Department’s wolf control plan also modeled lethal elimination to help inform decision makers during this stage of recovery. The plan’s analysis included survival estimates for wolves in northwest Montana, which incorporated a mortality rate of 28%.It is important to note that the agency’s lethal control To err on the side of caution (that is, when in doubt, assume a greater impact on wolf population so that the true impact is not underestimated), the scenarios modeled in the wolf plan included an even higher level of control mortality (i.e. removing 30% of the population every the four years in addition to the base mortality rate of 28%). recovery area and statewide, no We do not expect this action to jeopardize the recovery of the wolf in the Eastern Recovery Area or statewide. »

Togo’s wolf pack has at least seven members, according to the state’s 2021 wolf survey. In 2021, the Togo pack was targeted by state shooters following repeated livestock attacks, but no wolves in the pack were killed. WDFW spent $3,109.87 on this unsuccessful effort.

There were a minimum of 206 wolves and 33 packs in Washington state in 2021, according to an annual survey conducted by state and tribal biologists.

Despite the continued growth, wolf advocates decried Monday’s order, noting that some research indicates killing wolves disrupts pack structure and can lead to more attacks on livestock.

“It’s so disheartening to hear that Washington is trying to kill even more endangered wolves, especially when we know it’s not helping anyone,” Center for Biological Diversity attorney Sophia Ressler said in a statement. sent by email. “We desperately need rules here in Washington that establish a comprehensive and transparent process for dealing with wolf predation. A good rule would make wolf killing rare and create a clear process for the state and industry to follow. breeding.”

The agency has drafted new wolf breeding rules and on July 8, the WDFW commission will vote on whether or not to adopt the rule. The new rule, which was open for public comment until April, would require that before the state could kill wolves that attacked livestock, agency staff would have to confirm that livestock owners had put in place appropriate non-lethal deterrents. The proposal would also create areas of chronic conflict within the state. These areas would have area-specific criteria for the use of non-lethal and lethal measures. The proposed rules do not explicitly state which non-lethal substances are considered appropriate. Chronic conflict areas would have more detailed conflict management plans.

Below, the WDFW declaration is copied in its entirety:

WDFW Director Authorizes Deadly Action in Togo Wolf Pack Territory

June 13, 2022

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind authorized today (June 13, 2022) the lethal removal of one to two wolves from Togo pack territory in response to repeated livestock depredations on the private pastures of Ferry County.

The proactive and reactive non-lethal deterrents used by the two affected herders (described below) in the area this grazing season did not reduce further depredation.

Director Susewind’s decision is consistent with guidance from the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the lethal disposal provisions of the Department’s 2017 Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol.

In accordance with the orientations of the plan and the protocol, the justification for the authorization of the lethal elimination of the wolves of Togo is as follows:

* Since the last update provided on June 10, 2022, a rider discovered another injured calf on June 11 belonging to Producer 2 in a private industrial estate. WDFW staff investigated and confirmed that the calf was injured by wolves. The calf and the mother of the calf have been removed from the allocation to the producer’s domicile.

* WDFW has documented six depredation events (four in the past 30 days) resulting in two deaths and four injured calves since August 17, 2021 attributed to the Togo pack. All but one of the events were considered confirmed incidents of wolf depredation; the other incident was considered probable wolf depredation. All incidents took place on private land.

* At least two (in this case, more than two) proactive deterrents and reactive deterrents (if applicable) have been implemented by livestock owners affected by the depredations, including the following:

Producer 1:

* Proactive movement of livestock out of a private pasture in Togolese territory in early April upon discovery of a deer killed by a wolf (discovered based on information on wolf activity provided by WDFW);

* provided human presence and targeted surveillance around private calving pastures (checking cattle several times a day before they are moved to summer pastures and plots);

* carcass sanitation carried out; removed sick or injured livestock when found;

* proactively deployed Fox lights (before depredation occurred) in the pasture where an injured calf was investigated on May 18;

* deployed VHF ear tags on cattle to help locate them;

* used one part-time rider on private calving pastures prior to participation in summer pastures and plots, and one full-time and two part-time riders after participation to meet WDFW riding expectations daily to near-daily (one of the part-time runners has since become full-time);

* Signed a non-lethal deterrent measures cost-sharing contract that will begin July 1;

*and, has been in regular communication with WDFW staff and has reported any suspected depredation.

Producer 2:

* Sanitation of carcasses carried out;

* removed sick or injured livestock when found;

* proactively deployed Fox lights and a radio-activated guard box (RAG) where livestock congregate at night;

* used one full-time rider and two part-time riders to meet WDFW’s expectation of daily to near-daily riding (one of the part-time riders has since become full-time);

*and, has been in regular communication with WDFW staff and has reported any suspected depredation.

The Department has documented these deterrents in the agency’s “Livestock Wolf Mitigation Measures” checklist, along with date entries for the deterrents and coordination with producers and riders. The proactive and reactive non-lethal deterrents implemented by these breeders were those best suited to their operations in the professional judgment of WDFW staff.

Livestock are uniformly dispersed over a large part of the Togolese territory. Based on the distribution of livestock across the territory, where the depredations took place, the amount of non-lethal deterrents already deployed and currently in use, and the behaviors exhibited by the wolves, WDFW staff believe that the depredations are likely to continue.

The lethal removal of one to two wolves from Togo pack territory is not expected to impair the ability of the wolf population to meet the state or local recovery goal. In previous years, WDFW documented 12-30 deaths per year, and the population continued to grow and expand its range. The Department’s wolf plan has also modeled lethal elimination to help inform decision makers during this recovery stage. The plan’s analysis included survival estimates for wolves in northwest Montana, which incorporated a 28% mortality rate. It is important to note that the agency’s lethal control has been factored into this 28% mortality estimate. To err on the side of caution (i.e., when in doubt, assume a greater impact on the wolf population so that the true impact is not underestimated), the scenarios modeled in the plan against wolves included an even higher level of lethal control (i.e., removing 30% of the population every four years on top of the base mortality rate of 28%). Based on this modeling analysis, along with an analysis of higher levels of potential mortality over the actual wolf population level in the eastern recovery area and statewide, we do not expect whether this action jeopardizes the recovery of wolves in the eastern recovery area or statewide.

WDFW discussed the impacts of removing one to two wolves from Togo pack territory and determined that the current level of mortality should not negatively impact the ability to recover wolves in Washington.

The lethal removal permit expires when the wolf(s) listed in the permit have been removed on or after June 27, 2022 (whether or not the wolves have been removed), whichever comes first. The authorization could be extended or modified to include other wolves in the pack area if additional depredations are documented after the initial authorization or if other extenuating circumstances are identified.

WDFW will keep the public informed of this activity through weekly updates. The next update will be provided on June 20.