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Report: Washington wolf population continued to grow in 2020
A new report from state officials says the wolf population in Washington state increased by an estimated 33 animals in 2020. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife released its annual wolf report Friday, saying the estimated wolf population grew to 178 wolves in 29 packs.
WASHINGTON - A female wolf that had pups earlier this year has been illegally killed in northeast Washington state.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists responded to a report of a dead wolf on May 26 in the Sheep Creek area of Stevens County. The agency says the female died of a gunshot wound.
The Spokesman-Review reports that biologists believe the wolf that was killed was the breeding female from the Wedge Pack.
Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Staci Lehman says the agency is investigating. Conservation Northwest is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to a poaching conviction.
RELATED: Report: Washington wolf population continued to grow in 2020
The last confirmed wolf poaching in the state was on May 27, 2019, near the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, also in Stevens County. There has been no conviction in that case despite reward money totaling $10,000.
There are a minimum of 178 wolves in 29 packs and 16 successful breeding pairs in Washington, according to Fish and Wildlife’s annual survey released in April. There have been repeated conflicts between wolves and humans since the animals returned to the state earlier this century.
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