On August 5th, state officials shot and killed two female gray wolves in northeastern Washington. One of these wolves was this year's designated breeding female, tasked with helping to repopulate the fleeting gray wolf population across Washington state. This was the third
of wolves and there are plans to continue with further wolf extermination despite the gray wolf being an endangered species under Washington state law.
Why were they killed?
The slaying of wolves is allowed under the certain conditions of the state's Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. This plan looks for ways to protect this endangered species while allowing wolves to live in harmony with humans and other wildlife and livestock. The ultimate goal is recovery of the gray wolf population to sustainable levels. These levels decreased over the centuries largely due to over-killing by humans.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Jim Unsworth authorized this most recent killing of the wolves after confirmed reports of five livestock attacks by one of the areas 19 known wolf packs.
The department explains that they attempted preventative measures before choosing to end the lives of the wolves. These measures included increasing human presence and removing the carcasses of dead livestock. Despite these measures, the livestock attacks continued and the department felt the only way to remedy the situation was by killing these natural predators.
Killing the breeding female
Donny Martorello, the department wolf policy leader, insists the authorized wolf removals were not meant to target breeding animals, such as the specified annual breeder that was shot and killed on August 5th. He explains that it is impossible to identify these breeding animals during a removal operation. However, in 2015, 22 wolves from 13 packs in Washington state were fitted with radio collars to help with identification and tracking patterns. Breeding wolves are often prioritized for these tracking methods.
Amaroq Weiss from the Center for Biological Diversity strongly disagrees with the state authorized killing of two gray wolves. She works as the West Coast Wolf Organizer for the Center and has over 18 years of direct experience in wolf conservation. Weiss explains that the state's protocol for exterminating wolves is not based on scientific research. Killing a breeding wolf may cause the pack to split and increase hostility and conflict in the region.
Alternative options
The Wolf Conservation and Management Plan points to a number of non-lethal methods to aid in wolf-livestock interactions. Options include implementing guard animals, utilizing light/noise scare devices, non-lethal hazing (such as paintballs), protective fencing and removing individual wolves. The plan states that these non-lethal methods in conjunction with their compensation plan, paying livestock owners for livestock loss and injury, offer the best solution. The killings on August 5th tell us that they feel otherwise.
In the state's own management plan they list situations where lethal control should be constrained due to its negative impact on sustainably growing the endangered gray wolf species. These situations include targeting breeding packs in recovery areas during pup rearing periods (April to September). Unfortunately, the breeding female killed in the northeastern Washington recovery region in August perfectly fits this description of a wolf that should've been safe from lethal harm.
Final word
Since 2008, the population of gray wolves in Washington state has steadily increased. However, gray wolves will remain on the state's endangered species list until 15 successful breeding pairs are found in three designated recovery regions for three consecutive years. The killing of a breeding wolf may severely impact this desired outcome.
From 2014 to 2015, the gray wolf population increased by over 30%. In that same time frame, the number of livestock attacks by wolves decreased. Weiss credits the state's non-lethal management methods with this success and called for further protection. These numbers are proof that wolf populations can increase without negatively affecting neighboring livestock.
Anticipating public outcry over the killing of two gray wolves, Conservation Northwest, an advisory group to the wolf management plan, released a statement. In their statement, they explained that the lethal removal of wolves with care and restraint will not affect the overall flourishing of wolf populations in the region. But when a designated breeding female is shot and killed against scientific evidence and the state's own management plan, can we really say care and restraint were shown?