A group of Washington state senators has introduced a bill to protect livestock from wolf predation.
Sens. Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro-Woolley), Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) and Mark Schoesler (R-09) introduced the legislation in early January.
The bill, Senate Bill 5939, would allow the lethal take of wolves that chronically attack livestock.
In addition, the bill would establish a three-year pilot program where ranchers can kill the first wolf that returns to where livestock was killed. The wolf killing must then be reported to the Department of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours and the wolf carcass surrendered.
