Wash. gives targeted wolves a reprieve

The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington wildlife managers have given a reprieve to four wolves targeted for killing in the state's northeastern corner.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday that it's giving the temporary reprieve to give its team in the field a break, to avoid running into people outdoors on Labor Day and to evaluate what it's learned so far about the pack's activities. Officials say they'll reconsider next week.

The move also came after protests from conservation groups who argued that there's little evidence the Stevens County pack, known as the Wedge pack, were to blame for recent depredations on the Diamond M ranch. Eight livestock have been injured or killed since last month, most recently in mid-August.

Officials killed one wolf Aug. 7 and planned to kill up to four more.
The conservation groups include Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diversity. The department maintains that the wolves are responsible.

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