On Sep. 11, a livestock producer reported an injured adult cow on private pasture to WDFW staff, who conducted an investigation on Sep. 12. The cow remained mobile after being injured, so the exact depredation location is unknown.
The investigation revealed multiple lacerations, puncture wounds, swelling, and hemorrhaging on the hindquarters extending into the groin and udder area. The cow was removed to the producer’s private ranch for treatment and healing, along with her calf so it would not be unaccompanied.
These injuries were indicative of wolf depredation. In addition, location data from the collared wolf in the Grouse Flats pack showed at least one member of the pack in the vicinity during the approximate time of the depredation. Based on the combination of tissue damage with associated hemorrhaging and wolf locations, WDFW staff classified this event as a confirmed wolf depredation.
The livestock producer who owns the affected livestock monitors the herd by range riding five to six days a week, maintains regular human presence in the area, uses Fox lights in their pastures, removes sick and injured livestock from the grazing area until they are healed, removes or secures livestock carcasses to avoid attracting wolves to the rest of the herd, and calves away from known wolf high activity areas. Calves are typically at least 200 lbs. before turnout.
The Grouse Flats pack has been involved in two depredations in the last 30 days and four in the last 10 months. WDFW includes a summary of all documented depredation activity within the past ten months in every monthly update.
On Sep. 9, WDFW notified the public about a livestock depredation involving the Grouse Flats pack which brought the total number of depredations by the pack to four in 10 months and two days. On Sep. 11, WDFW staff and Director Susewind discussed how best to address the situation and the Director decided lethal removal was not warranted at that time. WDFW staff and Director Susewind are now continuing to discuss how best to address this situation and mitigate further conflict.
Previous updates
2019 Grouse Flats pack updates