OLYMPIA, Wash. — In response to repeated attacks on livestock in Stevens County, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind authorized the lethal removal of one wolf from the Aladdin Valley area.
The department said the decision to kill the wolf was consistent with guidance from the state’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
According to the WDFW the rationale for authorizing the kill is as follows:
On May 17, 2026, WDFW staff in cooperation with the Stevens and Ferry Counties Wildlife Specialist, investigated one injured and one dead calf. Investigators determined the evidence to be consistent with a confirmed wolf depredation. These depredations were considered as two separate events.On May 18, WDFW staff in cooperation with the Stevens and Ferry Counties Wildlife Specialist, investigated another injured calf in the same area. The evidence was also consistent with a confirmed wolf depredation.The affected livestock producer and WDFW staff implemented proactive nonlethal deterrents including human presence, Fox lights, and treatment of sick and injured livestock and removal of dead animals.Following these recurrent depredation events, on May 18, 2026, WDFW staff deployed turbo-fladry to further mitigate interactions between wolves and livestock. Staff also deployed traps in the affected pasture and successfully radio-collared an adult male wolf on the morning of May 22, 2026. This will help determine which pack is responsible and will also serve as an additional deterrent.Because of the number of packs in the area, and limited grazing lands to move livestock to, there will be continued overlap between the cattle and wolves throughout the summer, with a likelihood of continued conflict.Lethal removal of one wolf from this area with multiple packs will not jeopardize wolf recovery in the Eastern Washington recovery zone or statewide.
The department does not believe there are are any additional reactive non-lethal deterrents appropriate for this situation.
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