Spokesman Review, Aug 15, 2014, Rich Landers The Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that one or more wolves from the Huckleberry Pack in southern Stevens County killed 12 sheep Aug 11 and two more Aug 12 on private property off the Springdale-Hunters Road. The attack just north of Blue Mountain and about two miles north of the Spokane Indian Reservation is the first confirmed loss of livestock to wolves this year in Washington. About 1800 sheep are being grazed in the area under a lease with the Hancock Timber Co., which owns the lnd, said WDFW officials who verified the attacks. The state is working with the operator to move the sheep to another grazing allotment and remove the sheep carcasses to avoid wolves returning to the kill site. WDFW staffers are on site with the sheep and are prepared to haze away any wolves that might return, said Madonna Luers, dept. spokeswoman in Spokane. A contract range wrider will also be on the site for five to seven days while the sheep are moved. The sheep producer may be eligible for compensaton for the sheep lost to the wolves, she said. Nine other sheep were reportd killed in the area on Sunday, but state investigators could not confidently determine what killed them. The Huckleberry Pack, was confirmed as Washingtons seventh wolf pack in June 2012 and is believed to have at least six members, including a breeding pair and the radio-collared male. This does not include pups produced this year. Luers said the Huckleberry Pack, named for nearby Huckleberry Mountain, has not been associated with livestock attacks before this incident.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 04:42:35 +0000
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