The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking comment on proposed changes to the “caught-in-the-act” provision around lethal removal of wolves caught attacking livestock.
“The revision of this rule is aimed at clarifying ambiguities around when and how lethal removal of wolves may occur and addressing livestock-wolf conflict management,” said Subhadeep Bhattacharjee, WDFW wolf and grizzly bear policy lead.
In eastern Washington, where wolves are not listed as endangered under federal law, livestock owners may kill one gray wolf without a permit if it is attacking livestock.
WDFW proposes replacing the word “agent” with “documented representative” as one of the eligible entities able to kill a wolf and clarifying who can be a documented representative, as well as clarifying that a single wolf can be taken by these specified individuals while a wolf or multiple wolves are attacking domestic animals.
In addition, WDFW proposes clarifying that the rule does not apply to individuals who attract wolves by leaving sick, injured or dead animals in grazing areas. The department also proposes correcting the verb tense in the definition of the word “attack.”
Comments may be submitted through Nov. 23 at tinyurl.com/37cb7rnr.
