Conservation groups have announced a $51,100 reward after wildlife officials confirmed the deaths of six wolves in northeastern Washington were due to poison.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Stevens County deputies initially found four wolves in February. Officers thought they died of old age because there were no blood or bullet holes on the carcasses. The deputies reported the incident to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials. An additional two wolves were found the next month during a search of the area.
Toxicology reports revealed they’d been poisoned.
Illegally killing a wolf is considered a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.
Anyone with information regarding the incident can report it confidentially by calling WDFW’s poaching hotline at 877-933-9847 or texting WDFWTIP to 847411.
