Wildlife Services claims killing wolves reduces wolf-caused losses of livestock, yet recent peer-reviewed research<\/a> directly contradicts this conclusion, finding that killing wolves increases wolf-livestock conflicts. Wildlife Services has also failed to fully analyze the ecological effects of killing wolves in Washington, including impacts on wolf populations in neighboring states and on non-target animals, including federally protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx.<\/p>\n Wolves were driven to extinction in Washington in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. Wolves began to return to Washington from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia in the early 2000s, and the wolf population in the state has grown to 18 confirmed packs and at least 90 wolves. Despite this growth, there are just eight breeding packs. Wolves in the state are far from recovered and face ongoing threats\u2014including the threat of being shot and killed by Wildlife Services.<\/p>\n In late 2015, Federal District Judge Robert Bryan vacated Wildlife Services’ “finding of no significant impact” of its wolf killing plans and ordered the agency to complete an environmental impact statement. Washington’s wolves are safe from Wildlife Services for now, and we’re monitoring the situation for the future.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#f1f3f2″ allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”30px||30px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related Documents” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Staff” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n John Mellgren: Bio<\/a> | Docket<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n WA_WS_Complaint.Filed_.3.3.15_new case number.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 2015.12.17-WA Wildlife Services Wolves Final Decision.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Wildlife Services is a stand-alone federal extermination program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that kills roughly 4 million animals per year, including wolves, bears, otters, foxes, coyotes, and birds\u2014with almost no oversight or accountability. An internal audit revealed that Wildlife Services\u2019 accounting practices lack transparency and violate state and federal laws.<\/p>\n In the summer of 2014, Wildlife Services finalized plans to conduct wolf damage management in Washington. This allows Wildlife Services to contract with the State of Washington, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and tribes to investigate depredation incidents, trap wolves, and when authorized, kill wolves through aerial gunning, shooting, and trapping.<\/p>\n Washington has already experienced Wildlife Services\u2019 recklessness firsthand. In August 2014, Wildlife Services\u2019 snipers mistakenly shot and killed the Huckleberry wolf pack\u2019s alpha female during a helicopter gunning operation. The killing was in direct violation of explicit instructions from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) to not kill either of the pack\u2019s alpha members. The death of the Huckleberry pack\u2019s breeding female threatens the future of the entire pack. This is demonstrative of Wildlife Services\u2019 cavalier and rogue attitude regarding wolf management and is an example of why Wildlife Services has no place in the management of a still-recovering animal like the gray wolf.<\/p>\n As a result, in March 2015, we filed a lawsuit<\/a> against Wildlife Services challenging its authority to kill state-endangered wolves in Washington on behalf of five conservation groups. We continue to work to develop sound public policy that supports and encourages the return of gray wolf populations in Washington and across the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n Wildlife Services claims that killing wolves reduces wolf-caused losses of livestock, yet recent peer-reviewed research<\/a> directly contradicts this conclusion, finding that killing wolves actually leads to an increase in wolf-livestock conflicts. Wildlife Services has also failed to fully analyze the ecological effects of killing wolves in Washington, including impacts on wolf populations in neighboring states and on non-target animals, including federally-protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx.<\/p>\n Wolves were driven to extinction in Washington in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. Wolves began to return to Washington from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia in the early 2000s, and the wolf population in the state has grown to 18 confirmed packs and at least 90 wolves. Despite this growth, there are just eight breeding packs. Wolves in the state are far from recovered and face ongoing threats\u2014including the threat of being shot and killed by Wildlife Services.<\/p>\n UPDATE 12\/21\/15: VICTORY! Federal District Judge Robert Bryan vacated Wildlife Services’ “finding of no significant impact” of its wolf killing plans and ordered the agency to complete an environmental impact statement. Washington’s wolves are safe from Wildlife Services for now, and we’re monitoring the situation for the future.<\/p>\n (WELC project #426)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" VICTORY! Stopping Wildlife Services from Killing Wolves in Washington Wildlife Services is a stand-alone federal extermination program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that kills roughly 4 million animals per year, including wolves, bears, otters, foxes, coyotes, and birds\u2014with almost no oversight or accountability. In the summer of 2014, Wildlife Services finalized plans to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":16824,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" WA_WS_Complaint.Filed_.3.3.15_new case number.pdf<\/a><\/p> 2015.12.17-WA Wildlife Services Wolves Final Decision.pdf<\/a><\/p><\/div> Wildlife Services is a stand-alone federal extermination program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that kills roughly 4 million animals per year, including wolves, bears, otters, foxes, coyotes, and birds\u2014with almost no oversight or accountability. An internal audit revealed that Wildlife Services\u2019 accounting practices lack transparency and violate state and federal laws.<\/p> In the summer of 2014, Wildlife Services finalized plans to conduct wolf damage management in Washington. This allows Wildlife Services to contract with the State of Washington, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and tribes to investigate depredation incidents, trap wolves, and when authorized, kill wolves through aerial gunning, shooting, and trapping.<\/p> Washington has already experienced Wildlife Services\u2019 recklessness firsthand. In August 2014, Wildlife Services\u2019 snipers mistakenly shot and killed the Huckleberry wolf pack\u2019s alpha female during a helicopter gunning operation. The killing was in direct violation of explicit instructions from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) to not kill either of the pack\u2019s alpha members. The death of the Huckleberry pack\u2019s breeding female threatens the future of the entire pack. This is demonstrative of Wildlife Services\u2019 cavalier and rogue attitude regarding wolf management and is an example of why Wildlife Services has no place in the management of a still-recovering animal like the gray wolf.<\/p>Partners<\/h3>\n
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