Collared Washington wolf legally killed in Idaho

wolf

A collared Washington wolf recently was legally killed after it wandered into Idaho.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in November that members of the Stranger Pack had dispersed to Idaho, which has allowed hunting and trapping of wolves since 2011.

Over the past 8 years, Idaho wolf numbers have continued to increase to roughly 1,000 in more than 90 packs, while about 300 wolves are killed annually.

As of the last Washington survey, the Stranger pack, located southwest of Colville, had a minimum of two wolves. Statewide there were a minimum of 126 known wolves in 27 known packs including at least 15 breeding pairs as of late 2018.

Wolves are a federally endangered species in the western two-thirds of Washington.

Eastern Washington wolves are not federally listed and are part of the Northern Rockies wolf population, of which Idaho’s wolves are a part as well. However, wolves remain a state listed species in Washington, and hunting and trapping them is illegal.

Once Washington meets its recovery goals, wolves will be delisted at which point the agency may allow them to be hunted and trapped. (Spokesman-Review)