BRANDON HANSEN / KCHW NEWS

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the Togo Pack in northeastern Washington, following a series of livestock depredations in Ferry County.

WDFW Director Kelly Susewind approved the action on July 28 after the pack was linked to three confirmed livestock injuries within a 30-day span. The agency noted that affected ranchers had already implemented at least two non-lethal deterrents, including increased human presence and range riding, in an effort to prevent conflicts.

Despite these efforts, WDFW concluded that the deterrents were not effective, citing the small size of the Togo Pack and the recurring livestock attacks. The department says the targeted removal of two wolves is aimed at changing the pack’s behavior and reducing future depredations.

The lethal removal is authorized through August 7. WDFW will assess the situation after that date and determine whether additional actions are necessary.

The Togo Pack, located in northern Ferry County, was first confirmed in 2017 and has been involved in several livestock depredation incidents over the years. Packs such as Togo, Wedge, and Smackout have become familiar names in the ongoing debate between conservation efforts and livestock protections.

As of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) 2024 annual report, the state had 37 known wolf packs and 19 successful breeding pairs, with over 85% of packs located in Northeast Washington. While the overall wolf population continues to grow, most wolves remain in the eastern third of the state, where recovery has been strongest.

Wolves remain a state-endangered species west of U.S. Highway 97, but are delisted in the eastern third of Washington, where WDFW has more flexibility in management, including lethal removal in response to repeated livestock attacks.

Wolves remain a contentious topic in northeastern Washington, where their recovery has been most concentrated. Ranchers, wildlife advocates, and state agencies continue to navigate the complex balance between predator conservation and protecting livestock in rural communities.

Wolves were wiped out in Washington by the 1930s, but began naturally recolonizing the state in the early 2000s, primarily from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia. Since then, the recovery has been centered in northeastern Washington, especially in Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties—areas with abundant wildlife and working rangelands.