This is an update for the Leadpoint pack following the lethal removal authorization by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind on Sept. 21.
On Sept. 21, 2022, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized lethal removal by WDFW and by producer permit for up to two wolves total from the Leadpoint pack territory. The authorization was in response to repeated depredations of cattle on private grazing lands in Stevens County and is consistent with the guidance of the state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and the lethal removal provisions of the department's wolf-livestock interaction protocol.
On Sept. 27, WDFW lethally removed an adult male wolf from the Leadpoint pack territory. On Sept. 28, WDFW lethally removed an adult female wolf from the Leadpoint pack territory. With the removal of two wolves, the lethal removal authorization and lethal removal permit are now expired.
WDFW documented five depredation events resulting in three dead and two injured livestock since August 22, 2022 attributed to the Leadpoint pack. WDFW has not documented any additional wolf depredations in the Leadpoint pack territory since Sept. 19.
If WDFW documents additional livestock depredations indicating a renewed pattern of depredation, WDFW may initiate another lethal removal action following the guidelines of the Wolf Plan and wolf-livestock interaction protocol.
Previous updates
2022 Leadpoint pack updates
WDFW will provide a final report on this and any other lethal removal actions during 2022 in the Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2022 Annual Report, which will be published during spring 2023.
A summary of all documented depredation activity within the past 10 months is included in every monthly wolf update.