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For more information on dangerous and problem wildlife, contact the WDFW Enforcement Program
360-902-2936
enforcement-web@dfw.wa.gov
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| DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT |
| ON AUGUST 12, 2012 AT 0836 HOURS, I WAS CALLED BY A SERGEANT. THE SERGEANT ADVISED THERE WAS SOME SORT OF LIVESTOCK FOUND DEAD AT ASOTIN CREEK ROAD, AND AN ASOTIN COUNTY DEPUTY WAS ON SCENE REQUESTING THAT I RESPOND.
I CALLED DISPATCH AND ADVISED THEM I WAS EN ROUTE, AND ASKED THE DETAILS OF THE SITUATION. THEY ADVISED A CAPTAIN WAS OUT AT THE AREA WITH A DEAD COLT THE LANDOWNER HAD REPORTED FINDING THAT MORNING.
AT APPROXIMATELY 0915 HOURS I ARRIVED ON SCENE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAPTAIN AND THE LANDOWNER. THE AREA THE COLT WAS FOUND WAS APPROXIMATELY A ONE-ACRE PASTURE SURROUNDED BY ELECTRIC FENCE. THE CAPTAIN SHOWED ME AN AREA WHERE A STRUGGLE TOOK PLACE NEAR THE MULTIPLE WIRE ELECTRIC FENCE APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET FROM THE DECEASED COLT. THERE WITH A SPOT OF BLOOD, AND SCUFF MARKS IN THE DIRT ALONG WITH A PIECE OF TISSUE. THE COLT WAS LAYING WITH ITS RIGHT SIDE FACING UP, AND MOST OF ITS NECK HAD BEEN CONSUMED AS WELL AS ITS RIGHT EAR. THE COLT ALSO HAD A BROKEN FEMUR ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. I COLLECTED SEVERAL SHORT BLONDE COLORED HAIRS FROM THE CARCASS THAT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE FROM THE COLT. THE CAPTAIN SAID THE RP HAD MENTIONED HE THOUGHT THE COLT COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY A WOLF, SO I CALLED A BIOLOGIST TO ASSIST ME WITH THE INVESTIGATION. THE CAPTAIN HAD PENDING CALLS, SO AT THIS TIME HE CLEARED THE SCENE.
I ASKED THE RP WHEN THE LAST TIME HE SAW THE COLT ALIVE, AND HE SAID THE PREVIOUS EVENING IT WAS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE PASTURE WITH 3 MARES AND TWO OTHER FOALS. THE RP AND HIS NEIGHBOR, SHOWED ME A TRACK THEY HAD FOUND IN THE SOFT DIRT APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS AWAY TOWARDS ASOTIN CREEK. THE TRACK WAS THREE-LOBED, AND MEASURED ABOUT 3 1/4".
THE BIOLOGIST ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 HOURS, AND I SHOWED HIM WHAT I HAD FOUND. WE CONDUCTED A NECROPSY, SKINNING THE COLT CHECKING FOR INJURIES. IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS CONSUMPTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NECK, WE FOUND PUNCTURE WOUNDS AND LACERATIONS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NECK. LACERATIONS WERE ALSO FOUND UNDER THE FRONT LEGS IN THE CHEST AREA. THERE WERE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT REAR LEG OF THE COLT THAT DID NOT PUNCTURE THE SKIN. THE BIOLOGIST AND I BOTH AGREED THAT THE INJURIES ON THE COLT WERE CONSISTENT WITH INJURIES COMMONLY CAUSED BY A COUGAR.
AFTER CONDUCTING THE NECROPSY, WE SEARCHED THE AREA FOR FURTHER SIGN. ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ASOTIN CREEK WE FOUND SEVERAL COYOTE TRACKS, BUT NO OTHER SIGN OF PREDATOR TRACKS. WITH THE DRY CONDITIONS, AND THE HARD PACKED SOIL IN MOST PLACES, IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE ANY SIGN. PRIOR TO LEAVING, THE BIOLOGIST AND I PLACED TWO TRAIL CAMERAS IN THE AREA TO DOCUMENT ANYTHING COMING IN TO THE AREA.
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| REPORT INFORMATION |
| Date/Time of Incident: August 11, 2012 |
| Date of Report: August 12, 2012 |
| Location: 4400 BLOCK OF ASOTIN CREEK ROAD |
| City: Asotin |
| County: Asotin |
| Game Management Unit: 178 |
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