Washington Wolves Need Your Help

Tell the state to stop killing its state-endangered wolves.

What’s the situation with Washington’s wolves right now?

There are around 206 wolves in 33 packs in Washington, most of whom are in the northeastern part of the state. Wolves in Washington are no longer federally protected but are listed as endangered under state law. Unfortunately, Washington’s endangered species law is weak and allows too many wolves to be killed.

How did we get here?

Washington’s wolves were driven extinct in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. Wolves started returning to the state in the early 2000s from Idaho and British Columbia. State laws, though, have continued to favor the livestock industry over wildlife. Since 2012, the Department has killed dozens of state-endangered wolves and wiped out at least five entire packs. Some 90% of these conflicts have been on public lands, and almost 72% of them involved the same livestock operation.

How can people help?

The Center and allies continue to push for state wildlife officials to enact transparent, enforceable rules requiring livestock owners to use proactive, nonlethal methods to prevent conflicts between wolves and livestock. Because of an administrative petition the Center and allies filed, the governor directed the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to enact such rules, but the commission failed to act. As our efforts continue, we’ll need you to speak up to ensure wolves are truly protected, so stay tuned for how you can help.

#SaveOurWolves

You can make a difference by speaking up for Washington’s wolves on social media. Tweet these messages to spread the word.