Wolves kill yearling Angus in Central Washington

A yearling Angus has been killed by wolves in the range of the Teanaway pack in Central Washington, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday.

The depredation occurred north of Cle Elum in Kittitas County on a Washington Department of Natural Resources grazing allotment. Gray wolves are a federally endangered species in Central and Western Washington, and a state protected species throughout Washington.

A Washington State University graduate student researching wolves in the range of the Teanaway pack discovered the dead livestock July 16. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees gathered evidence and looked for other dead cattle.

USFW spokeswoman Ann Froschauer said WDFW will work with the producer to take preventive measures, such as range riders, to protect the rest of the herd. Unlike in the eastern one-third of Washington, where WDFW has lethally removed wolves to stop livestock depredations, USFWS is not authorized to shoot wolves when non-lethal means have been exhausted.

“We don’t have that option in the (federally) listed area,” Froschauer said.

The Teanaway pack has at least four members and maybe six, according to a recent WDFW report.

The pack has had no history of livestock depredations, according to WDFW, though pack members injured a sheep dog in 2011. A female member of the pack was illegally shot and killed last fall. Conservation groups have offered a reward for information leading to the shooter’s conviction. No arrests have been made.

At least five cattle have been killed by wolves this month in Washington. Three adult cows and a calf were killed by wolves in the Dirty Shirt pack in Stevens County, according to WDFW.

The yearling’s hide and bones showed evidence of gnawing and bite marks consistent with a wolf attack, according to USFW.

Other signs of wolf activity in the area included tracks, scat and hair. WDFW has fitted several members in the past with GPS collars. The collars confirmed wolves are in the area where the yearling was killed.

The producer has an agreement with WDFW in an effort to prevent depredations by increasing human presence near cattle and removing dead livestock to keep from drawing wolves.

Wolves kill yearling Angus in Central Washington – Washington – Capital Press.