Officials concerned about wolves in Asotin County

Wildlife managers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are considering killing one or more wolves to help stop recurring attacks on livestock by members of the Couse wolf pack in Asotin County.

The agency is also mulling nonlethal measures.

Last week, a ranch hand shot and killed a male wolf that was chasing cattle near Anatone. The shooting followed multiple wolf attacks on cattle since late June, including one that killed a steer. The pack roams the canyons and timber ridges connecting the Blue Mountains to the Snake and Grande Ronde rivers.

According to a news release from the agency, investigators there determined wolves injured a steer June 27, killed a steer Saturday, and injured a cow and likely injured another one Monday. The shooting of the wolf that occurred Tuesday is under investigation by the department. Livestock producers in eastern Washington are allowed by state law to shoot up to one wolf caught in the act of attacking their animals. Wolves in Washington are protected as endangered by the State Endangered Species Act. However, wolves in the eastern third of Washington are not federally protected.

Last summer, the agency killed two wolves from the pack following repeated attacks on livestock. The pack, once known as Washington Group 139, became an official pack this spring following completion of the agency’s annual wolf survey and report.

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273.