Washington state wildlife officials have authorized the incremental removal of wolves from southeastern Washington to halt ongoing livestock attacks. The Department of Fish and Wildlife issued the directive after determining that nonlethal management strategies were insufficient for the situation.
This marks the second kill order targeting the Couse pack this month. Agency personnel previously killed an adult male wolf from the group on Sept. 17. However, at least one member of the pack attacked livestock again following that removal.
The Couse pack has been linked to at least seven livestock attacks over the last 10 months. State investigators confirmed four animal fatalities resulting from these incidents, affecting two separate livestock owners. The state provides financial reimbursement to producers for livestock killed by wolves.
Department staff clarified that the goal is not full pack removal. According to the agency’s annual wolf report, the Couse pack consisted of at least five members in December. Gray wolves remain classified as endangered under Washington state law, despite federal delisting in eastern Washington in 2011. Legal protections for the species apply statewide.
Critics have raised concerns about transparency in the department’s management practices. Francisco Santiago Ávila, associated with Washington Wildlife First, argued that the agency prioritizes livestock owners over state-endangered gray wolves.
“Alarmingly, its public notice states neither how many wolves may be killed nor when the order expires,” Santiago Ávila said.
He added in an email that lethal control measures should be grounded in data rather than preference. “When killing fails, more killing is not science; it is a preference,” he wrote.
The department’s decision reflects a shift toward active intervention after repeated failures of nonlethal deterrents. Officials emphasized that the incremental approach allows for targeted management without eliminating the entire pack.