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WDFW Escalates War on Wolves with Columbia Pack Decision

Jan 7, 2025 | Carnivores, Coexistence, Press Releases

A gray wolf lays in a snowy landscape dotted with snow-capped sagebrush. Text on the image in a yellow bow reads, "WDFW Escalates War on Wolves with Latest Lethal Removal Decision." Below that, bolded text says, The department announced yesterday that Columbia Pack will be targeted in increasingly aggressive actions towards wolves."

A gray wolf lays in a snowy landscape dotted with snow-capped sagebrush. Text on the image in a yellow bow reads, "WDFW Escalates War on Wolves with Latest Lethal Removal Decision." Below that, bolded text says, The department announced yesterday that Columbia Pack will be targeted in increasingly aggressive actions towards wolves."

WDFW Escalates War on Wolves with Latest Lethal Removal Decision

Columbia Pack victim of manipulated narrative and anti-coexistence bias

For Immediate Release: January 7, 2025

Olympia, Wash.—Yesterday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced it approved the lethal removal of wolves from the Columbia Pack in yet another disheartening step away from science-based, ethical wildlife management. The department’s increasingly aggressive actions against wolves over the past eight months signal a disturbing trend that prioritizes a narrow set of interests over Washington’s ecological health and public interest.

A troubling element of this decision is the department’s apparent manipulation of depredation data to bolster their narrative. In previous incident reports from last fall, WDFW grouped related depredations together, presenting a cohesive picture of wolf-livestock interactions. Now, these incidents are inexplicably listed separately in the data grid on their website, inflating the appearance of conflict and providing a skewed justification for lethal removals. This approach erodes public trust and raises serious questions about the department’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

In response, Wildlife for All issued the following statement:

“Since last year, WDFW has displayed an uncharacteristically aggressive stance toward wolves, authorizing lethal actions at an alarming rate,” said Michelle Lute, Ph.D. in wolf conservation, executive director of Wildlife for All. “This approach ignores a growing body of research that shows killing wolves often exacerbates livestock conflicts rather than reducing them. The loss of pack members can disrupt social cohesion, leading to more unpredictable and problematic wolf behavior. Additionally, this tactic undermines the hard-won but ongoing recovery of wolves in Washington, a species that both remains at risk and is critical to healthy ecosystems.

“WDFW’s decision-making should reflect the best available science, and offer more transparency into the current use of coexistence strategies, not only to protect livestock but also honor the public’s overwhelming support for wolf protection. Wolves are a public trust species—belonging to all Washingtonians—and play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Decisions about their management should be made transparently, ethically, and in alignment with science—not shaped to fit a narrative that disproportionately favors lethal control. Wildlife for All demands that WDFW halt this escalation of lethal actions and recommit to meaningful coexistence solutions that respect both wildlife and communities.”

See our previous statement on WDFW’s war on wolves.

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About Wildlife for All

Wildlife for All is a national organization dedicated to reforming wildlife management to be more democratic, just, compassionate and focused on protecting wild species and ecosystems. Through research, advocacy, and education, we aim to protect wildlife and ensure that policies reflect the values of all Americans.