Washington’s wolf population grew by 16 percent in 2021, the 13th consecutive year of population growth, according to the annual report by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The 2021 annual survey showed a minimum year-end count of 206 wolves in 33 packs with 19 breeding pairs. The survey in 2020 showed 132 wolves in 24 packs, but the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation did not allocate resources to participate in the count, nor were they utilizing the same methods as WDFW and other Tribal partners. However, they participated in the count in 2021; therefore, the numbers are merged in the count.
Because this is a minimum count, the total number of wolves in Washington is likely higher due to lone wolves without a pack. The number of packs increased with the formation of four new packs: the Columbia Pack in Columbia County, the Keller Ridge Pack in Ferry County, the Dominion Pack in Stevens County and the Shady Pass Pack in Chelan County. Pack sizes ranged from two to 10 wolves, with most packs having three to six wolves.
“Washington’s wolves continue to progress toward recovery, with four new packs documented in four different counties of the state in 2021,” WDFW Director Kelly Susewind said in a statement.
WDFW divides the state into three regions for wolf recovery: Eastern Washington, Northern Cascades and Southern Cascades. The Eastern Washington region has exceeded the recovery goals of four successful breeding pairs for three consecutive years. The Northern Cascades region has met the goal of four breeding pairs but needs one more year to meet recovery goals. WDFW documented individuals in the Southern Cascades region but no known packs.
WDFW documented 30 wolf mortalities during 2021, including two removed by the department on permits issued in response to wolf-livestock conflicts, 22 legally harvested by Tribal members, four killed by a vehicle and two mortalities still under investigation.
“It’s heartening to see our wolf population increasing, but with people still killing so many wolves, we shouldn’t be celebrating,” said Sophia Ressler, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Wolves are still recovering in Washington and need to be protected, not killed, by the state.”
In 2021, WDFW confirmed 13 wolf attacks on livestock (all cattle), the lowest number since 2017. After investigation, two calf mortalities and six calf injuries were considered probable depredations by wolves. According to WDFW, six of the 33 packs were involved in at least one confirmed livestock mortality or injury.
The department spent $20,866 to compensate producers for losses due to wolves, $205,969 on range riders and $111,649 to reimburse ranchers for expenses related to implementing nonlethal measures.
Wolf plan
WDFW officials have delayed finalizing a rule on when lethal measures can be used in wolf-livestock conflicts. The consideration of rule changes resulted from a letter from Gov. Jay Inslee (D) in 2019 asking WDFW to lethally remove fewer wolves after environmental groups filed lawsuits.
WDFW’s recovery efforts for wolves are guided by the 2011 Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the 2017 wolf-livestock interaction protocol, which provide nonbinding guidance to address nonlethal conflict deterrents and lethal wolf removals.
The new rules would require WDFW to confirm a rancher has implemented appropriate nonlethal conflict deterrence measures. A new rule would establish area-specific criteria for using nonlethal and lethal measures to mitigate wolf-livestock conflicts in areas of chronic conflict.
WDFW wolf coordinator Julia Smith said in a statement the decision to not include which nonlethal methods are considered appropriate was intentional, and the area-specific criteria would have more detailed management plans.
“If adopted, the proposed change to (Washington Administrative Code) 220-440-080 would align the code with the agency’s long-standing commitment to nonlethal conflict mitigation strategies,” Smith said. “This proposal focuses limited time and resources to areas where the most livestock and wolf loss has occurred in the state.”
WDFW Commission Chairperson Barbara Baker said that the vote on measures could occur in August at a public hearing.
In February, a court ruling returned protections to gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, except in eastern Washington and other areas included in the Northern Rocky Mountain population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating the status of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies to determine if protection is warranted. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
