GOLDENDALE — On Oct. 6, Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife discovered that an adult male gray wolf was shot and killed near the intersection of Highway 142 and Glenwood Highway, just outside of Goldendale.
The wolf reportedly killed two calves on a ranch in the area, but the responsible party is still unknown. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is offering a $10,000 reward for pertinent information. Call 1-844-397-8477 or fill out a form at www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips if you have any details. Callers may remain anonymous.
Gray wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act in about two-thirds of Washington, west of Highways 17 and 97. According to Andrew Lavalle, public affairs officer for FWS, the maximum criminal penalty for individuals is a $100,000 fine and up to one year in prison, while the penalty for organizations is a $200,000 fine.
A native species, gray wolves were nearly eradicated from Washington in the early 1900s, but have since returned by dispersing from populations in nearby states and provinces. Wolves primarily prey on elk, deer, moose and other ungulates.
As shown by their reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park, the apex species can corral overgrazing and bolster biodiversity, but new research shows those effects are more complex — wolves aren’t a so-called “magic bullet” for ecological restoration, according to The New York Times.
Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife is also investigating a separate gray wolf killing that occurred southwest of Twisp in Okanogan County on Oct. 20.
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