Monthly Wolf Report - May 2023

This update provides an overview of gray wolf conservation and management activities in Washington during May 2023.

Program updates and coordination

Outreach and education

WDFW staff attended the Asotin County Commissioners meeting and answered questions about wolves and conflict with livestock from the public in attendance.

WDFW staff attended the Columbia County Cattlemen’s Association meeting and provided an update on wolves. A wolf biologist gave a presentation on the 2022 annual wolf report and a wildlife conflict specialist talked about cost-share programs available to livestock producers to assist with the cost of implementing non-lethal deterrents. 

Current population status and proactive conflict mitigation

The year-end minimum population count for 2022 was at least 216 known wolves in 37 known packs including at least 26 breeding pairs. Annual wolf population surveys are conducted in the winter because wolf populations experience the least amount of natural fluctuation during this time. Counting the population at the end of each year allows for comparable year-to-year trends at a time of year when the wolf population is most stable. The year-end minimum population count for 2023 will be released in April 2024.

Reports of remote camera images or videos, wolf tracks, or sightings from the public are extremely helpful in locating previously undocumented wolf activity and potential new packs on the landscape. Please take photos of wolves or wolf sign (use some way to measure the size of a track) and upload them to the wolf reporting page via the following link: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/gray-wolf/observations

Definitions: A “pack” is defined as two or more wolves traveling together in winter, and a “breeding pair” is defined as at least one adult male and one adult female wolf that raised at least two pups that survived until December 31. In any given year, the number of packs will always be greater than or equal to the number of breeding pairs. The known territories and more information for each pack can be viewed by clicking the pack name.

Beaver Creek territory
No activity to report.

Big Muddy pack
No activity to report.

Butte Creek pack
No activity to report.

Carpenter Ridge pack
No activity to report.

Chewuch pack
WDFW wolf biologists surveyed this area for wolf sign this past month.

Chopaka pack
No activity to report.

Columbia pack
WDFW wolf biologists captured and collared an adult female and an adult male wolf in the Columbia pack.

Diobsud Creek territory
No activity to report.

Dirty Shirt pack
No activity to report.

Dominion pack
No activity to report.

Five Sisters pack
No activity to report.

Goodman Meadows pack
No activity to report.

Grouse Flats pack
WDFW wolf biologists captured and collared a yearling male and a yearling female wolf in this pack.

Huckleberry pack
No activity to report.

Leadpoint pack
No activity to report.

Lookout pack
WDFW wolf biologists surveyed this area for wolf sign this past month.

Loup Loup pack
No activity to report.

Maverick pack
WDFW wolf biologists surveyed this area for wolf sign this past month.

Mt. Spokane pack
No activity to report.

Napeequa pack
No activity to report.

Navarre pack
No activity to report.

Onion Creek pack
On May 12, WDFW was notified about a suspected wolf attack on a dog on private land in Stevens County. The reporting party described seeing a wolf chasing their dog. They reported that when they ran outside yelling, the animal stopped chasing the dog and ran away. They also fired a shot to scare it away. WDFW staff found deep lacerations on the dog with associated swelling and tenderness. The event was classified as a probable wolf depredation in the Onion Creek pack territory. The dog was treated by a veterinarian the day of the attack and is recovering.

Salmo pack
No activity to report.

Scatter pack – new documented area of wolf activity
WDFW reported two wolf depredation events in Ferry County in the April monthly report. At that time, efforts to understand which wolves or wolf pack might be in the area of the depredations were under way. WDFW documented one additional wolf depredation in May and one in June.

On April 8, WDFW was notified by a livestock producer of multiple injured and dead livestock on a private ranch in Ferry County. On April 8, WDFW staff investigated an injured alpaca, an injured miniature donkey, and a dead miniature donkey. The two donkeys were attacked on the evening of April 7 or the morning of April 8; the alpaca was believed to be injured the previous week.

WDFW staff determined that one miniature donkey was killed in a confirmed wolf depredation event, while the other sustained injuries during the same event. WDFW staff determined that the alpaca sustained injuries in a probable wolf depredation event; the alpaca later died later from its injuries.

Prior to these incidents, neither WDFW nor Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) biologists were monitoring a known wolf pack in this area (south of Republic along the Sanpoil River). There was no indication that the area was being used by the neighboring Nc’icn or Strawberry packs.

On May 17, after recovering from its previous injury on April 8, the miniature donkey was found dead. WDFW staff investigated and confirmed it was killed by wolves. The same day, WDFW staff started trapping in the area. On May 23, WDFW staff caught and collared an adult female wolf. Trail camera photos indicate that a new pack is using this area, and the CTCR named them the Scatter pack.

On June 1, WDFW staff investigated an injured colt in the same area and classified the incident as a probable wolf depredation. WDFW estimated that the injuries were sustained one to two weeks before they were investigated.

WDFW has been responsive to and conducted investigations of every carcass and injured live animal about which WDFW was notified, typically the same day as notification. 

WDFW staff discussed nonlethal deterrents with the livestock producer, and the producer allowed staff to deploy Fox lights. The livestock producer and ranch staff are providing daily human presence on the ranch. WDFW has offered a cost-share contract for other deterrents such as increased human presence and/or range riding. WDFW staff are exploring additional nonlethal deterrents that may be effective for this livestock producer’s operation. 

WDFW has documented four depredation events resulting in three dead and one injured livestock since April 8, 2023 attributed to the Scatter pack.

WDFW staff are discussing the depredations and use of non-lethal measures in this pack territory. WDFW is working with the livestock producer to better protect their livestock and staff are monitoring wolf activity in the area to understand the movements and composition of this new pack.

Shady Pass pack
No activity to report.

Sherman pack
WDFW wolf biologists surveyed this area for wolf sign this past month.

Smackout pack
A WDFW wolf biologist captured and collared an adult female in the Smackout pack this past month.

Sprague Lake territory
No activity to report.

Stranger pack
No activity to report.

Sullivan Creek pack
No activity to report.

Teanaway territory
No activity to report.

Togo pack
No activity to report.

Touchet pack
WDFW wolf biologists set cameras and surveyed for pack activity for monitoring and future trapping opportunities.

Tucannon pack
WDFW wolf biologists set cameras and surveyed for pack activity for monitoring and future trapping opportunities.

Vulcan pack
WDFW wolf biologists surveyed this area for wolf sign this past month. A wolf in the Vulcan territory was legally killed in a caught-in-the-act incident in May.

Wedge pack
No activity to report.

Miscellaneous/lone wolves

  • On May 26, a livestock producer notified WDFW about a dead calf on private property in Spokane County that had been seen alive the previous day. WDFW staff investigated the carcass and determined the calf died in a confirmed wolf depredation event. Following the depredation, the calf carcass was buried and the remaining cattle were moved out of the pasture to a different area outside Spokane County. As of this update, the incident has not been attributed to a known wolf pack; it may be associated with the wolf in the Sprague Lake area reported in the 2022 annual report.
     
  • WA139 group/Asotin County wolf activity: As reported in previous updates, the collared wolf in this pack (WA139f) left the historical territory of the Tucannon pack in late January 2023 and over the course of several weeks moved southeast into northeastern Oregon. Biologists learned that there were multiple other wolves with the collared wolf. These wolves spent most of the month of February in northeast Oregon, where they were involved in multiple depredations on cattle. One of the wolves in the group was lethally removed by an affected livestock producer in Oregon (updates for wolves in Oregon can be found at https://dfw.state.or.us/wolves/updates.html). This group of wolves was using areas in both Oregon and Washington, but as of late April, they have localized in Washington. WDFW wolf biologists determined that there are at least four wolves in this group and that they appear to be denning on private property.

    WDFW wildlife conflict specialists continued to have check-ins with the Asotin County Cattleman’s Association President and multiple livestock producers in this area of wolf activity. WDFW staff responded to a report of a dead cow in the Anatone area. The team investigated the carcass and surrounding area and determined that the cow had fallen off a bluff due to unknown causes. WDFW also received a report the following day of another carcass located in the same area; the livestock producer reported that the cow had pneumonia and had been treated recently. Due to rugged terrain, the carcasses could not be removed. WDFW staff located and purchased hydrated lime which was delivered to the livestock producer to be used for carcass sanitation purposes.

    WDFW staff investigated four dead calves in the same area on May 21. Based on the investigations, staff confirmed two calves as depredated by wolves, one calf probably depredated by wolves, and the fourth calf died of an unknown cause in one event. The local wildlife conflict specialist followed up with the affected livestock producer following the investigation and provided the livestock producer with information about nonlethal deterrents and loss claims. WDFW staff will continue to work with livestock producers in this area and monitor the WA139 group.
     
  • Note: The Frosty, Nason, Nc’icn, Keller Ridge, Strawberry, Whitestone, and Wilmont pack territories are within Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) lands and are managed under tribal authority. Information regarding these packs is proprietary and reported at the discretion of the CTCR.

Mortalities

One wolf mortality and one possible wolf mortality were documented in May. A wolf in the Vulcan territory was legally killed in a caught-in-the-act incident in May. The possible wolf mortality involves a canine that was found dead; WDFW staff submitted a sample to determine whether the unknown canine was a domestic dog or a wolf. As of May, WDFW has documented two wolf mortalities in 2023 with a possibility of a third pending DNA analysis. 

Depredation activity

In 2022, 81% of known wolf packs were not involved in any documented livestock depredation.

WDFW documented four wolf depredation events in May, higher than the average (1.6) from 2018-2022.

Please report any suspected livestock depredations or the death or harassment of wolves to the WDFW Enforcement Hotline at 1-877-933-9847.

Below is a summary of packs with documented depredation activity within the past ten months (some packs have depredation history prior to the current ten-month window; this timeframe is considered based on guidance from the wolf-livestock interaction protocol).

Pack

Depredation date

Depredation type

Proactive non-lethals

Ten-month window

Agency lethal removal actions

Grouse Flats

8/12/22

Confirmed mortality of steer

Yes

6/12/23

 

 

8/30/22

Confirmed mortality of steer

Yes

6/30/23

 

Leadpoint

8/22/22

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

6/22/23

 

 

9/1/22

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

7/1/23

 

 

9/16/22

Confirmed mortality of cow

Yes

7/16/23

 

 

9/19/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

7/19/23

 

 

9/19/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

7/19/23

Adult male removed 9/27/22; adult female removed 9/28/22

 

9/30/22

Confirmed injury of cow and calf (calf died from injuries)

Yes

7/30/23

 

 

10/7/22

Confirmed mortality of cow

No

8/7/23

 

Onion Creek

2/1/23

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

12/1/23

 

 

4/17/23

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

2/17/24

 

 

5/12/23

Probable injury of dog

N/A

 N/A

 

Smackout

8/17/22

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

6/17/23

 

 

8/20/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

6/20/23

 

 

8/27/22

Probable injury of calf

Yes

6/27/23

 

 

8/28/22

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

6/28/23

 

 

8/31/22

Confirmed mortality of two calves

Yes

6/30/23

Juvenile male lethally removed 9/8/22

 

9/26/22

Probable mortality of calf

Yes

7/26/23

 

 

10/3/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

8/3/23

 

 

10/6/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

8/6/23

 

 

10/8/22

Confirmed injury of calf

Yes

8/8/23

Yearling female removed 10/10/22

 

10/12/22

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

8/12/23

 

Stranger

7/28/22

Probable injury of calf

No

5/28/23

 

Scatter

4/8/23

Probable injury of alpaca (later died from injuries)

No

2/8/24

 

 

4/8/23

Confirmed mortality of one miniature donkey and confirmed injury of second miniature donkey (later killed in event on 5/17)

No

2/8/24

 

 

5/17/23

Confirmed mortality of miniature donkey

Yes

3/17/24

 

 

6/1/23

Probable injury of colt

Yes

4/1/24

 

WA139 group

5/21/23

Confirmed mortality of two calves and probable mortality of one calf

Yes

3/21/24

 

Unknown wolf/wolves (south Cheney area, Spokane County)

5/26/23

Confirmed mortality of calf

Yes

3/26/24

 

 

Packs referenced in this update