Reward for information about poisoned wolves increases to $53,900

This update provides an overview of gray wolf conservation and management activities in Washington during October 2022.

WASHINGTON STATE–For the past eight months, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police have been investigating six wolf mortalities within the Wedge pack territory in Stevens County. WDFW Police began the investigation in February, and it is ongoing. Toxicology results revealed all six wolves died from ingesting poison.

The investigation remains active, and the Department encourages anyone who might have relevant information to report it confidentially by calling WDFW's poaching hotline, 877-933-9847, or by texting a tip to 847411.

The following organizations are offering rewards totaling $53,900 so far for information that leads to a conviction in the case of the poisoning of Stevens County wolves: Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Northwest, Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States, Kettle Range Conservation Group, Northwest Animal Rights Network, Sierra Club–Washington Chapter, Washington Wildlife First, and Western Watersheds Project.

Gray wolves are listed as endangered under state law throughout Washington. In the western two-thirds of the state, they are also listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Under state law, the illegal killing of a wolf or other endangered fish or wildlife species is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

WDFW continues to support the Conflict on Workinglands Conservation Innovation Grant (CoW-CIG) research team's evaluation of the effectiveness of range riding at reducing conflicts between livestock and carnivores. In October, WDFW staff and the PhD student spent several weeks in northeastern Washington collecting ~60 trail cameras and shaving cow tails. Trail camera data will be processed starting in 2023.