Two Additional Depredations Attributed To Wedge Pack

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the Wedge Pack is responsible for two more wolf depredations in Stevens County this month.

On Tuesday, May 19^th, WDFW crews were called to private pasture land to a report of a dead calf. The bite wounds, lacerations and hemorrhaging was consistent with a wolf depredation. As crews were investigating, they found a second calf, injured, from a wolf depredation. That calf was treated for its injuries and will be monitored.

The majority of the affected livestock are in a 100-acre fenced pasture near the livestock producer’s home; they were checked daily and there is regular human presence in the area. Following these depredations, WDFW staff placed Fox lights along the pasture and an additional (two total) Cattle Producers of Washington wolf-livestock conflict monitor was assigned to the area.

This marks the second and third depredations attributed to the Wedge Pack in roughly a week. WDFW said since these incidents occurred with minimal, dedicated proactive, nonlethal deterrents in place and because Department is exploring additional avenues for responsive nonlethal deterrents and gathering more information about the Wedge pack, lethal removal is not being considered at this time. WDFW staff will continue to work with the producer and the Cattle Producers of Washington as well as continue to monitor the area to mitigate future conflict.

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