Washington wildlife managers target Onion Creek wolf pack for culling
Published 4:00 pm Thursday, September 12, 2024

- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering up to $10,000 for tips leading to an arrest and a conviction in a wolf poaching in Klickitat County, Wash.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind today approved removing up to two wolves from the Onion Creek Pack in northeast Washington.
The pack has killed at least three calves in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties despite deterrence measures such as range-riding. Fish and Wildlife officials said they believe the attacks will continue.
Fish and Wildlife confirmed the attacks on Aug. 10, Aug. 15 and Sept. 9.
The three attacks in 30 days crossed the minimum threshold for the department to consider shooting one or two wolves to curb predations. The Onion Creek Pack is the third to cross the threshold this year.
Fish and Wildlife killed an adult male in the Dominion Pack and called off attempts to cull the Leadpoint Pack after one week of searching. Both packs attacked cattle in Stevens County.
The department decided not to cull the Crouse Pack in Asotin County. A wolf in the pack was killed in the act of attacking cattle in July, a factor in the department’s decision to use lethal control.