Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials killed two wolves, a yearling female and an adult male, from the Togo Pack in a misguided attempt to prevent livestock attacks. The killings were in response to a kill order issued by WDFW Director Susewind on June 13.

As of December 2021, the Togo Pack consisted of an estimated 7 wolves.

Killing Wolves Doesn’t Solve Problems

The state has obliterated several wolf packs over the years, starting with the Wedge Pack in 2012, and has caused countless packs to fragment as a result of targeting individual wolves. All of these kill orders were issued with the same goal: stop livestock depredation. Yet science shows that killing a wolf can increase the risk that wolves will prey on livestock in the future. It is counterproductive and unsustainable.

This latest removal order further illustrates WDFW’s willingness to prioritize private industry over the state’s wildlife. Why are WDFW officials continuing to ignore peer-reviewed science that indicates lethal control of wolves only exacerbates livestock conflict, especially when they’re presented with years of evidence in their own state?