Fish and Wildlife offers $10K reward in illegal killing of protected Eastern WA gray wolf
For the second time in less than a month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information related to the illegal killing of a gray wolf in the region.
The federal service, along with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, are seeking information about the killing of a federally endangered adult male gray wolf in Klickitat County, which neighbors Benton County. They’re offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest, criminal conviction or civil penalty.
The gray wolf is protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The killing happened on Dec. 17 near Trout Lake, on the western edge of Klickitat County. The wolf was the last remaining member of the Big Muddy Pack, said a news release from Fish and Wildlife.
Trout Lake is about 30 minutes north of the Hood River Bridge over the Columbia River.
The department did not specify how the wolf died.
It’s the second wolf illegally killed in Klickitat County, with the other happened in September or October near Goldendale. That wolf died from a gunshot wound that led to its starvation over the course of days or possibly weeks, after it dragged itself to a water source without the use of its back legs, according to the department.
A total of five wolves have been illegally killed in Washington this year.
Anyone with information about this case should call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using the FWS TIPs line at 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477), or fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips, or call WDFW at 877-933-9847 or send an email to reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov. Callers may remain anonymous.
Fish and Wildlife is doubling its initial award for information about the illegal killing of a wolf in southern Umatilla County in November to $20,000.
The wolf, a radio-collared male known as OR 159, was found dead on private property about 20 miles south of Heppner, which is about an hour and a half drive south of the Tri-Cities.
Anyone with information about the Oregon case should call 503-682-6131 or Oregon State Patrol dispatch at 800-452-7888. Callers can also dial *677 or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov.
Columbia wolf pack removal
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also announced this week that they are considering the lethal removal of a wolf or wolves from the Columbia wolf pack territory in an attempt to change pack behavior.
That pack is in Southeast Washington and has been linked to six confirmed and six probably depredation events in Columbia County, killing two livestock and injuring 10 others within a 10-month period, according to the news release.
The suspected attacks on animals involved four different livestock producers in 2024.
- Aug. 6 - Injured calf confirmed to be wolf depredation
- Sept. 11 - Injured calf suspected to be wolf related
- Sept. 16 - Dead calf confirmed to be killed by wolf
- Oct. 27 - Three injured calves consistent confirmed as wolf depredation.
- Nov. 6 - Five injured calves with old and healed injuries that with evidence of probable wolf depredation.
- Dec. 29 - Dead calf confirmed to be wolf related.
WDFW is considering all options for curbing the attacks on livestock, including lethal means to remove one or more wolves.
Non-lethal deterrents include delayed turnout, removing sick and injured livestock, sanitizing livestock carcasses, moving mineral blocks and calving activity away from known wolf use areas, utilizing more range riding and human presence and installing fladry wire and fox lights.
The department expects to have a recommended plan of action later this month.
The gray wolf population in the region has surged in recent years, recovering to a population of at least 178 wolves in Washington in 2021.
The department estimates there are around 133 gray wolves in Eastern Oregon, as of their 2024 counts.
Eight wolves were illegally killed in 2023 in Oregon, the second highest number since 2000, according to their data. Of those, one was shot and the rest were poisoned.
