The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed last week a wolf depredation in the Southeastern corner of the state.  Investigators said a producer called to report an injured cow on private pasture land Wednesday September 11th in Asotin County.  Investigators said the cow suffered many injuries consistent with a wolf attack, but did not die from those injuries.  The owner removed the cow and her uninjured calf so treatment could be administered.  WDFW added data from collared wolves in the area shows at least one member of the Grouse Flats pack was in the area at the time of the attack.

 

The livestock producer monitors the herd by range riding five to six days a week, maintains regular human presence in the area, uses Fox lights in their pastures, removes sick and injured livestock from the grazing area until they are healed, removes or secures livestock carcasses to avoid attracting wolves to the rest of the herd, and calves away from known wolf high activity areas. Calves are typically at least 200 pounds before turnout.

 

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The Grouse Flats pack has been involved in two depredations in the last 30 days and four in the last 10 months.  WDFW Director Kelly Susewind decided lethal removal from the Grouse Flats pack is not warranted at this time.

 

Speaking of wolf packs in Washington, WDFW says they have yet to lethally remove a member of the Togo pack in Ferry County, despite authorization to do so August 9th.  The Togo pack has been involved in six depredations in the last 30 days, nine in the last 10 months, and 18 since November 2017.

 

 

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